
There are a number of common confusions regarding protective orders and how and why to seek one, and even what a protective order can do. Protective orders are the main mechanism that the court system uses to protect people from other people. As opposed to a stay away order, a violation of a protective order is a criminal act resulting in potential jail time in and of itself. This gives the police the authority to arrest an offender simply on the basis of violating the order. Protective orders can be granted when family violence has occurred, and is likely to occur again. […]