English
EspañolWhat can I do if the abuser violates the sexual violence protective order?
If you believe the abuser has violated the order, and it’s a safe option for you, you can call the police. If the abuser has been served with a copy of the sexual violence protective order and violates the order, the police can arrest them. Violation of a sexual violence protective order is a class A misdemeanor.1 In most cases, the penalty for a class A misdemeanor is:
- up to 364 days in jail;
- a fine of up to $2,500; or
- both.2
You can also file a motion in the court that issued the order to ask that the abuser be held in contempt of court, which means that you are asking that they be punished for violating the court order. The judge will review your motion and decide whether or not there will be a hearing. If there is a hearing, you would give evidence about how the abuser violated the order, and the abuser would present their defense. The judge would then decide whether the order was violated and what punishment should be given to the abuser.
1 Utah Code § 78B-7-508
2 Utah Code §§ 76-3-204(1)(a); 76-3-301(c); see 76-3-204(1)(b)(i) for the exceptions where a class A misdemeanor may be punished by one year in jail
