Restraining Orders

This section defines domestic abuse for the purposes of getting a domestic abuse protection order (DAPO).

Mississippi law defines “abuse” as one or more of the following acts between people who have a personal relationship:

• attempting to injure you physically, with or without a deadly weapon;
• intentionally or recklessly injuring you physically, with or without a deadly weapon;
• using a physical menace or threat to make you fear that you will soon be physically injured;
• criminal sexual conduct committed against a minor;
• stalking;
• cyberstalking;
• statutory rape;
• rape by force or by drugging the victim; and
• sexual battery.¹

Note: “Abuse” does not include any act of self-defense.¹

¹ Miss. Code § 93-21-3(a)