Injunction Against Harassment / Order of Protection |
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If you are NOT a victim of domestic violence, you can obtain an Injunction Against Harassment to give you ongoing protection against a defendant. You may seek an Injunction Against Harassment from the City Courts, a Justice of the Peace, or any other court in the County. One of the first questions you will be asked by an officer, when filing a report, is - "Do you have a restraining order"? If you do not have one, the officer will normally advise you to obtain one immediately. Although his/her advice is meant well, there are things you should consider. Such an order can and often times will enrage a stalker. The restraining order is merely a piece of paper that officers can use as a tool and it does not ensure your safety. Be prepared for the worst, as many stalkers will retaliate. However, there are two very valid reasons for obtaining an Injunction Against Harassment or an Order of Protection. One - the police are likely to take your calls more seriously and two - charges can be filed against the offender. Under no circumstance ever assume that immediate action will be taken if the order is violated. If you have made the decision to obtain an Injunction Against Harassment or an Order of Protection, be more cautious then ever after it is served on your stalker. According to the Department of Justice, most stalkers (70%) will violate a restraining order. However, the stalker who violates such an order is subject to arrest. If a warrant is not issued, the stalker or harasser can be charged with a misdemeanor (Interfering With Judicial Proceedings, which means a violation of the order). Many victims have been successful in racking up multiple misdemeanor charges against their stalkers for violating the order. An IJP is considered a class 1 misdemeanor and carries a six-month sentence if the maximum sentence is imposed. If you have obtained an Order of Protection or an Injunction Against Harassment keep a copy of it with you at all times. In addition, give a copy to your friends, family, neighbors and even co-workers. Be sure you also have verification that the order was served. There are many pros and cons whether a restraining order should or should not be obtained. Each stalking case is unique and you are the only one who can make the final decision. Whatever you do, don't ever assume the order will protect you. Following is a sample of the information you will need to obtain an Injunction Against Harassment.
Sample Only - Injunction Against Harassment
========================================================================================= PETITION _______________________________ ______________________________ FOR Plaintiff Defendant INJUNCTION _______________________________ ______________________________ AGAINST Date of Birth Address HARASSMENT ______________________________ ( ) MODIFIED City, State, Zip Code, Telephone ________________ Case Number
NOTE: NO FILING FEES, but service fees may be waived if you are unable to pay. 1. My relationship to the defendant is: __________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) I have / had a dating relationship with the Defendant. 2. Harassment involves a series of acts. The acts must have occurred within the past year unless the Defendant has been incarcerated or out of state. I have been harassed by the Defendant as follows (be as specific as possible, giving the date or approximate date for each action): Date(s) Describe what happened: _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Is there or has there been any court case or court order that involves similar conduct by you and/or the Defendant? ( ) No ( ) Yes: If known: date, name of court, facts of case: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. If the Court does not grant your request today, without notice to the Defendant, what serious harm may occur: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DESCRIPTION OF DEFENDANT: _____ _____ _____________ ______ ______ _____ _____ ________________ SEX RACE DATE OF BIRTH HEIGHT WEIGHT EYES HAIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ALIAS (if known) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Defendant is: ( ) Military ( ) Law Enforcement 5. I ask this court to order the Defendant not to commit an act of harassment against me and/or persons named below and/or against my property AND make the following Order(s) (check which order you want): ( ) Waive or defer any fees (fill out separate affidavit) ( ) Order the Defendant not to contact me: ( ) in person; ( ) by phone; ( ) in writing; ( ) other ___________________________ Word of advice.....Check other and write in "by any electronic communication or by third party contact." DO NOT FILL OUT ADDRESSES AND/OR PHONE NUMBER BELOW IF YOU WANT THEM KEPT PRIVATE The following persons should be included within the protection of this Order for the following reasons: Name and Address if different than yours Relationship D.O.B. Reason(s) (do not include yourself) to you Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ ( ) Keep my address private. (Do not check this box if the Defendant knows where you live)( ) Order the Defendant not to come on or near (LEAVE NEXT LINE BLANK IF BOX ABOVE IS CHECKED): ( ) My residence at _____________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) My place of employment (Name and Address): ___________________________________________________________________ Does the Defendant also work there? ( ) Yes ( ) No ( ) School (Name and Address): __________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) Other Address : ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) Other Requests: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________ ____________ _____________________________ ___________ My Signature Date Attorney's Signature Date
VERIFICATION I swear or affirm that the contents of this Petition are true to the best of my knowledge.
________________________________________________________________________ Plaintiff or Third Party
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME ON ________________________________________________ Judicial Officer/Clerk/Notary Date
PETITIONER'S CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHEET (This form applies to the Injunction Against Harassment and the Order of Protection. The information you provide on this form will not be released to the Defendant. _____________________________________________________________________ Name _____________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code _____________________________________________________________________ Employer's Name _____________________________________________________________________ Work Address _____________________________________________________________________ City State Zip Code _____________________________________________________________________ Home Telephone Work Telephone _____________________________________________________________________ Message Telephone
Order Of Protection If you have been a victim or are a potential victim of domestic violence, you may seek an Order of Protection from the City Courts, a Justice of the Peace, or any other court in the county. Please call the court to make sure they can assist you during the time you plan to go (some courts close during the lunch hour). When the courts are closed, Emergency Orders of Protection are available through your local Police Department. Emergency orders expire at the end of the next business day. You should get a regular Order of Protection from the court before the Emergency Order expires. An Order of Protection can prohibit the abuser from contacting the victim, committing further offenses, going to the victim's residence (even if the abuser lived at this address), going to the victim's place of work or any other relief necessary for the protection of the victim or other designated persons. If you or the abuser have filed for legal separation or dissolution of marriage you must contact the Clerk of the Superior Court for an injunction, instead of contacting any other court for an Order of Protection. Following is a sample of the information you will need to file for an Order of Protection.
Sample Only - Petition For Order Of Protection
PETITION FOR _________________________________________ _________________________________________ ORDER Plaintiff Defendant OF PROTECTION ________________________________________ _________________________________________ ( ) MODIFIED Date of Birth Address ________________________________________ __________________________________________ ________________ Third Party and Relationship to Plaintiff City, State, Zip Code, Telephone Case Number
NOTE: No filling fee will be charged. No service fees by law enforcement will be charged. DO NOT FILL OUT ADDRESSES AND/OR PHONE NUMBERS BELOW IF YOU WANT THEM KEPT PRIVATE. 1. Is an action for maternity, paternity, annulment, legal separation or dissolution of marriage (divorce) now pending? ( ) No ( ) Yes : Case Number (if known) ______________________________ Where: _______________________________________ 2. My (Plaintiff's) relationship to the Defendant is (check all that apply): ( ) Married: Date of marriage:______________________________ ( ) Divorced: Date divorce granted: _________________________ ( ) Living together now or in the past ( ) One of us is pregnant by the other or we have a child in common. ( ) Defendant is related to me: How? _____________________________________________________________ 3. Have either of you been charged or arrested for domestic violence OR requested an Order of Protection or Injunction Against Harassment against the other? ( ) No ( Yes) If known: date, name of court, facts of case. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DESCRIPTION OF DEFENDANT:_____ _____ _____________ ______ ______ _____ _____ ________________ SEX RACE DATE OF BIRTH HEIGHT WEIGHT EYES HAIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ALIAS (if known): ________________________________________________________________ Defendant is: ( ) Military ( ) Law Enforcement 4. For the Court to issue an Order, the Defendant must have committed, or may commit, an act of domestic violence or some other good reason must exist. (Previous acts of domestic violence must have occurred within the past year unless the Defendant was in jail or prison or out of state.) Describe what the Defendant did or might do, including whether you fear bodily injury or death. Be as specific as possible, giving the date or approximate date for each action. Date(s) Describe what happened _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. I ask this Court to order the Defendant not to commit an act of "domestic violence" against me and/or persons named below and/or against my property AND make the following Order(s) (check which Orders you want): ( ) Order the Defendant not to possess and/or purchase firearms and/or ammunition. ( ) Order the Defendant to surrender firearms and or ammunition. ( ) Order the Defendant to participate in domestic violence counseling or other counseling. ( ) Order the Defendant not to contact me: ( ) in person; ( ) by phone; ( ) in writing; ( ) other; _______________________________ Word of advice.....Check other and write in "by any electronic communication or by third party contact." DO NOT FILL OUT ADDRESSES BELOW IF YOU WANT THEM KEPT PRIVATE Name and Address if different than yours Relationship D.O.B. Reason(s) (do not include yourself) to you Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ Name: ______________________________ __________ __________ _____________________________________ Address:____________________________ ( ) Keep my address private. (Do not check this box if the Defendant knows where you live.) Order the Defendant not to come on or near (LEAVE YOUR RESIDENCE ADDRESS BLANK IF BOX ABOVE IS CHECKED): ( ) My residence at: _______________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) My place of employment (Name and Address): ______________________________________________________________ Does the Defendant also work there? ( ) Yes ( ) No ( ) School (Name and Address): ____________________________________________________________________________ ( ) Other addresses: ______________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) Order that I be given the exclusive use of our residence (write address only if different from above): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ( ) Other requests: _________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________ ___________ _____________________________ _________ My Signature Date Attorney's Signature Date
V E R I F I C A T I O N I swear or affirm that the contents of this Petition re true to the best of my knowledge. ______________________________________________________________________ Plaintiff or Third Party
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me on _______________________________________________________________________ Judicial Officer/Clerk/Notary Date
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