Obtaining an Order of Protection

 Posted on January 24, 2014 in Criminal Defense

As uncomfortable as the subject is, domestic violence is a very common crime in our society today. According to Illinois State Police, a woman is beaten in the United States every 15 seconds and domestic violence results in more injuries that require medical attention than rape, accidents, and muggings combined. Abuse can include physical abuse, harassment, making a child or another person watch abuse, forcing an individual to something they don’t want to, or denying a disabled person access to needed to care. These acts are considered domestic when committed by a family or household member, who can be any of the following:

• Spouses and former spouses;
• Parents, children, and stepchildren;
• Persons who formerly shared the same home;
• Persons who dated or were engaged.

There are in fact ways to end the cycle of domestic violence. The biggest and most effective way to do this is to obtain an Order of Protection. An Order of Protection is a legal order from a judge that is used to protect victims of domestic abuse. These Orders contain “remedies” that order an abuser to take certain actions or prohibit them from taking certain actions. The abuser, or respondent, may be arrested for violating remedies listed in the Order of Protection.

There are various ways to obtain an Order of Protection. The most effective way to go about obtaining one is to contact a criminal attorney and ask them to file a petition in civil court. You can also contact a local domestic violence program, going to the local circuit clerk’s office, or requesting an order after criminal charges have been filed.

Although it may not seem like it, there is hope for those victims of domestic abuse. If you or somebody you know has been the victim of abuse, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Illinois criminal attorney to assist you in filing for an Order of Protection.