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Legal Information: New Jersey

Restraining Orders

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Updated: 
January 8, 2024

How will a judge make a decision about whether to grant the order?

A judge can issue an extreme risk protective order if the judge believes that the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of bodily injury to himself/herself or others by possessing, purchasing, owning, or receiving a firearm. When deciding whether to grant a temporary or final extreme risk protective order, a judge will consider multiple factors including evidence of whether the respondent:

  • has any history of making threats or acting violent towards himself/herself or others;
  • has any history of attempted, threatened, or use of physical force against another person;
  • has or had a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order issued against him/her;
  • violated a temporary or final domestic violence restraining order;
  • has or had a temporary or final sexual assault restraining order issued against him/her;
  • violated a temporary or final sexual assault violence restraining order;
  • has any previous arrests, pending charges, or convictions for a violent crime, disorderly persons offense, or stalking offense;
  • has any previous arrests, pending charges, or convictions for cruelty to animals or any history of cruelty to animals;
  • has any history of drug or alcohol abuse and recovery from drug and alcohol abuse; or
  • recently got a firearm, ammunition, or other deadly weapon.1

1 N.J. Stat. § 2C:58-23(f)