Ohio Restraining Order Rules
In the state of Ohio, restraining orders are referred to as "protection orders." It is an order filed as civil law--as opposed to criminal law--that protects you and your family from harassment, abuse, stalking or other personal crime perpetrated by an individual who poses a continuing threat. The type of protection order that you file for depends on the type of abuse you suffer or are at risk of suffering.
Domestic Abuse
Generally, to qualify for a protection order, you must have a specific type of relationship with your abuser--see the Resources section of this article for a full list of possibilities. Any household membervwho physically attacks you, gives you reason to believe he may do so in the future, or physically harms a child is considered an abuser.
What a Protection Order Does
The restrictions put in place by a protection order vary on a case-by-case basis. It may, for example, protect you from being contacted by the abuser, award you custody of a shared residence (even if the abuser owns it), award you child custody, or require the abuser to see a counselor or other restrictions and punishments.
Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders
Not all abusive relationships qualify for standard protection orders. Other cases may be eligible for Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Orders, also known as SSOOPOs. According to the organization Women's Law, an SSOOPO protects you from "deliberately intimidating, aggressive or harassing behavior if the behavior serves no legitimate purpose." These orders can last up to five years.
Unlike a domestic violence protection order, you do not have to have any specific type of relationship to your abuser--or any relationship at all. Stalking offenses include sending threatening letters, making harassing phone calls, following you, vandalism, and other patterns of threatening or otherwise distressing behavior.
Sexually oriented offenses include rape and drugging the victim before engaging in sexual behavior.
Also, unlike a domestic violence protection order, an SSOOPO does not include provisions for child support, shared custody of vehicles, or other similar domestic disputes. It generally requires only that the abuser cut off varying degrees of contact with you, including phone calls, physical proximity or even entering your place of work.
Tags: protection order, domestic violence, domestic violence protection, have specific, have specific type, Offense Protection