Protective Order Violation Penalties by State (2026)
How each state handles violating a restraining order and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Violating a restraining order |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Knowingly doing something a domestic violence protection order forbids, or willfully failing to follow its terms, is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). A second conviction carries at least 30 days in jail that cannot be suspended, and a third or later conviction is a Class C felony (1 year and 1 day to 10 years). The court also adds a $50 fine for the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. Under a recent amendment, district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over these prosecutions (except juvenile cases), and cases pending on October 1, 2026 move to district court. Ala. Code 1975 § 13A-6-142; class ranges §§ 13A-5-6, 13A-5-7 |
| Alaska | Knowingly violating a domestic violence protective order (or attempting to), with reckless disregard that the act violates the order's protective provisions, or violating a stalking or sexual assault protective order or a vulnerable-adult protective order, is the crime of 'violating a protective order,' a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $25,000). Having a deadly or defensive weapon while communicating in person with the protected person in violation of the order is misconduct involving weapons in the third degree, a class C felony (up to 5 years). The statute sets no higher grade for repeat violations. AS 11.56.740, 11.61.200(a)(9); AS 12.55.035, 12.55.125, 12.55.135 |
| Arizona | Arizona charges disobeying an order of protection as interfering with judicial proceedings (disobeying or resisting a lawful court order), a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Every order of protection must warn that disobeying it can lead to arrest and prosecution for that crime and any other crime committed. A peace officer may arrest without a warrant on probable cause that the order was violated. A.R.S. §§ 13-2810(A)(2), (B); 13-3602(M), (R); 13-707 |
| Arkansas | Knowingly violating a condition of an order of protection after receiving notice of it (including qualifying out-of-state and military orders) is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year. It becomes a Class D felony (up to 6 years) if it happens within five years of a previous conviction for violating an order of protection and the order was issued after a hearing the person had notice of and a chance to attend. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-53-134 |
| California | Intentionally and knowingly violating a domestic violence or other listed protective or restraining order is a misdemeanor up to 1 year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. If the violation causes physical injury, it is 30 days to 1 year in jail and/or up to $2,000. A repeat conviction within 7 years that involves violence or a credible threat of violence can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony (up to 1 year in jail or under Pen. Code 1170(h)). A repeat conviction within 1 year of a prior one that caused physical injury carries 6 months to 1 year in jail and/or up to $2,000, or a 1170(h) felony term. Cal. Pen. Code 273.6; Pen. Code 17, 18, 19, 1170(h) |
| Colorado | Violating a protection order (contacting, harassing, threatening or approaching the protected person or place, or other prohibited acts, after being served with the order or learning its contents) is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to 120 days). It is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days) if the person has a prior conviction for violating a protection order, if the order was a mandatory criminal protection order, or if the order was based on stalking or the parties were in an intimate relationship. Any sentence runs consecutively to the sentence for the crime that led to the order, and police must arrest (or seek a warrant) when they have probable cause of a violation. C.R.S. § 18-6-803.5(1), (2), (3) |
| Connecticut | Violating a criminal protective order (issued in a family violence or other criminal case) is a class D felony (up to 5 years), and a class C felony (1 to 10 years) if the violation involves restraining the protected person or threatening, harassing, assaulting or sexually assaulting them. Violating a civil restraining order, or a qualifying out-of-state order, by not staying away or by contacting the protected person is a class D felony, and a class C felony if it involves restraint, threats, harassment or assault. Violating a standing criminal protective order is graded the same way. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-223, 53a-223a, 53a-223b; § 53a-35a |
| Delaware | Knowingly violating a domestic violence protective order (a Family Court protection-from-abuse order) or a lethal-violence or sexual-violence protective order is criminal contempt, a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). It becomes a class F felony (up to 3 years) if the violation causes physical injury or involves using or threatening a deadly weapon or firearm. A minimum of 15 days in jail, with no suspension, probation or parole, applies when the violation caused injury, involved a weapon, or the person has two or more prior convictions for the offense. 11 Del. C. § 1271A |
| District of Columbia | Violating a D.C. civil protection order (or temporary protection order) can be prosecuted either as criminal contempt or as a misdemeanor; either way the penalty is up to 180 days in jail, a fine, or both. The protection-order statute does not set a felony grade or a higher penalty for repeat violations. D.C. Code § 16-1005(f), (g) |
| Florida | Willfully violating a domestic violence injunction (for example, refusing to leave a shared home, going within 500 feet of the protected person's home, school or job, contacting them, committing violence, or refusing to surrender firearms) is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year), and the court must generally order a batterers' intervention program. A violation against the same victim by someone with a prior conviction for domestic violence or for violating an injunction is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years). Violating a repeat-violence, sexual-violence or dating-violence injunction is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a third-degree felony after two prior injunction-violation convictions involving the same victim. Fla. Stat. §§ 741.31(4), (5); 784.047 |
| Georgia | Knowingly violating a family violence order in a nonviolent way (by not leaving a home, not staying away from a home, job or school, coming within a set distance, or making contact) is a misdemeanor (up to 12 months). Violating a protective order, restraining order, bond or release condition by following, watching or contacting the protected person to harass and intimidate them is aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by 1 to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. O.C.G.A. §§ 16-5-95, 16-5-91 |
| Hawaii | Knowingly violating a protective order issued in a domestic abuse case is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year). A first conviction carries a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail, and a second or later conviction for violating the same order (or a related temporary restraining order in the same case) carries a mandatory minimum of 45 days. The protective order statute sets no felony grade. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 586-11 |
| Idaho | Violating a domestic violence protection order (or a provision excluding the person from a residence) after having notice of it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000, and police may arrest without a warrant. Violating a criminal no-contact order (issued in assault, battery, domestic battery, stalking, telephone harassment, protection order and similar cases) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine; a third violation within five years is a felony up to 5 years and/or $5,000, and no bond is set until the person appears before the court. Idaho Code §§ 39-6312, 18-920 |
| Illinois | Knowingly violating certain remedies of a valid order of protection (for example stay-away or no-abuse provisions) after being served or otherwise learning its contents is a Class A misdemeanor (under 1 year). It is a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years) if the person has a prior conviction for domestic battery or violating an order of protection, or for listed violent or sex offenses (such as murder, aggravated battery, stalking, kidnapping or criminal sexual assault) committed against a family or household member. A second or later violation of any order of protection carries a minimum of 24 hours in jail unless the court finds that manifestly unjust, and the court may order a fine or restitution. Violating a civil no contact order or a stalking no contact order is a Class A misdemeanor for a first violation and a Class 4 felony for a second or later violation. 720 ILCS 5/12-3.4(a), (d), 5/12-3.8, 5/12-3.9; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25 to -65 |
| Indiana | Knowingly or intentionally violating a protective order (including ex parte, domestic violence, workplace violence, criminal no-contact, and similar out-of-state or tribal orders) is invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). It is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2 1/2 years) if the person has a prior unrelated invasion of privacy or stalking conviction. Using a drone to commit the violation is no defense. A sex offender who knowingly moves within one mile of their victim's residence also commits invasion of privacy. IC 35-46-1-15.1; IC 35-50-2-4 to -7, 35-50-3-2 to -4 |
| Iowa | Violating a no-contact order or a civil protective order (including domestic abuse, sexual abuse, elder abuse and family-court orders) can be punished as contempt of court or, for no-contact orders in domestic abuse or older-individual assault cases and for protective orders, as a simple misdemeanor. A person convicted of or held in contempt for violating a criminal no-contact order must serve at least 7 consecutive days in jail, and a person who violates a civil protective order must serve a jail sentence; these sentences cannot be deferred or suspended or replaced by a fine, and the court may order payment of the protected person's attorney fees and costs. Stalking someone in violation of a protective or no-contact order is charged separately as stalking, a class C felony (up to 10 years). Iowa Code §§ 664A.7, 708.11(3)(a)(1) (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | Knowingly violating a protection from abuse order, a protection from stalking, sexual assault or human trafficking order, a qualifying out-of-state or tribal protective order, a family-court restraining order, or a no-contact condition of release, probation or postrelease supervision is violation of a protective order, a class A person misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Violating an extended protective order (one a court extended, for at least one more year and up to the defendant's lifetime, after finding the defendant violated a protection order or was convicted of a person felony) is a severity level 6 person felony. K.S.A. 21-5924, 21-6602, 21-6611 |
| Kentucky | Intentionally violating a domestic violence or interpersonal protective order after being served or notified is both contempt of court and a crime, but only one of the two may be pursued. Violation of an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months), but a third or later violation within five years is a Class D felony (1 to 5 years) if it involves the use or attempted use of physical force or a threat of physical harm; the earlier violations need not involve the same protected person. KRS 403.763, 456.180, 532.060, 532.090 |
| Louisiana | Willfully disobeying a protective or restraining order is the crime of violation of protective orders. A first conviction carries up to six months, a fine up to $500, or both. A second or later conviction carries 14 days to 2 years with or without hard labor (at least 14 days without parole, probation or suspension) and a fine up to $1,000. If the violation involves a battery or crime of violence against the protected person, or going to the protected person's home, school or workplace while armed with a firearm, the penalty is 3 months to 2 years and up to $1,000 (at least 30 days without benefit), rising to 1 to 5 years and up to $2,000 if the offender has a prior protective-order or assault/battery conviction against that person within five years. La. R.S. 14:79(B)-(C) |
| Maine | Violating a protection from abuse order after having actual notice of it is a Class D crime (less than 1 year and up to $2,000). It is a Class C crime (up to 5 years and $5,000) if the violation of a final protection order involves reckless conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to the protected person, or an assault on that person, or if the person has 2 or more prior convictions for violating a protection order. Violating only certain property and financial provisions of an order is handled as contempt instead. Police may arrest without a warrant on probable cause. 19-A M.R.S. § 4113; 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1604(1), 1704 |
| Maryland | Failing to comply with the main relief in an interim, temporary or final protective order (such as orders not to abuse, contact, harass or enter the residence of the protected person) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine for a first offense, and up to 1 year and/or $2,500 for a second or later offense. The conviction does not merge with any other crime based on the same act and may be sentenced consecutively. Police must arrest, with or without a warrant, a person they have probable cause to believe is violating such an order. Md. Code, Fam. Law § 4-509 |
| Massachusetts | Violating an abuse prevention (209A) order, or a protection order from another jurisdiction, is punishable by a fine up to $5,000, up to 2.5 years in a house of correction, or both, plus a $25 assessment. For any violation, or as a condition of a continuance without a finding, the court must order a certified batterer's intervention program unless it finds in writing good cause not to, and it may not substitute anger management or substance abuse treatment. G.L. c. 209A, § 7 |
| Michigan | In Michigan, violating a personal protection order (PPO) is punished as criminal contempt of court: an individual 17 or older who refuses or fails to comply with a PPO, if found guilty, must be imprisoned for up to 93 days and may be fined up to $500. A person under 17 is subject to the juvenile court's dispositional alternatives. Conduct that violates the order (such as assault or stalking) can also be prosecuted as a separate crime. MCL 600.2950(23) |
| Minnesota | Knowingly violating an order for protection (OFP) is a misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of 3 days in jail and court-ordered counseling. Violating it within 10 years of a prior qualified domestic violence-related conviction is a gross misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of 10 days. It is a felony punishable by up to 5 years and/or $10,000 within 10 years of the first of two or more such prior convictions, or if the person possesses a dangerous weapon while violating the order; a stayed felony sentence still requires at least 30 days of incarceration. A violation is also contempt of court. Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 14(b)-(d) |
| Mississippi | Knowingly violating a domestic abuse protection order or consent agreement (including a similar order from another state or a bond condition) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Instead of a criminal charge, the issuing court may hold the violator in contempt, but not both for the same violation. Violating a criminal sexual assault protection order issued at sentencing is a misdemeanor with up to $500 and six months, served consecutively. The protective-order section sets no higher penalty for repeat violations. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 93-21-21, 97-3-101(5) |
| Missouri | Violating an ex parte or full order of protection (for example by abuse, stalking, contact initiated by the respondent, or coming to the petitioner's home, work or school or within a set distance) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $2,000). If the person was found guilty of violating a protection order within the previous five years, the new violation is a class E felony (up to 4 years). Police must arrest a respondent who has notice of the order when there is probable cause of an act of abuse in violation of it. RSMo § 455.085.2, .7, .8 |
| Montana | Knowingly violating an order of protection is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, for a first offense. A second offense carries 24 hours to 6 months in jail and a $200 to $500 fine. A third or later offense carries 10 days to 2 years in jail or prison and a $500 to $2,000 fine. Only the respondent, not the petitioner, can be cited. MCA § 45-5-626 |
| Nebraska | Knowingly violating a domestic abuse or sexual assault protection order (or a recognized foreign one) after service or notice is a Class I misdemeanor (up to 1 year) for a first offense, a Class IV felony (up to 2 years) for a second, a Class IIIA felony (up to 3 years) for a third, and a Class IIA felony (up to 20 years) for a fourth or later. Violating a harassment protection order is a Class II misdemeanor (up to 6 months), and a Class I misdemeanor for a repeat. The petitioner cannot be charged with violating the order. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 26-118 |
| Nevada | Intentionally violating a temporary order for protection against domestic violence is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $1,000). Violating an extended order is a misdemeanor for a first violation, a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days) with one prior violation, and a category D felony (1 to 4 years) with two or more prior violations; each act can be charged separately. Buying a firearm while subject to an extended order, or violating its firearm surrender terms, is a category B felony (1 to 6 years and up to $5,000). NRS 33.100, 33.0305, 33.031(4) |
| New Hampshire | Knowingly violating a domestic violence protective order (including a foreign order or one issued in a divorce case) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $2,000), and the charge may not be reduced. Police must arrest the violator and seize his or her firearms. Within 6 years of such a conviction, a later abuse offense can be charged one level higher (for example, a class A misdemeanor becomes a class B felony). The person may also be prosecuted for criminal contempt. RSA 173-B:9 |
| New Jersey | Knowingly violating a domestic violence restraining order is contempt: a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months, up to $10,000) when the violating conduct could itself be a crime or disorderly persons offense, and otherwise a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months). A second or later nonindictable domestic violence contempt conviction carries a minimum of 30 days in jail. Violating a stalking restraining order is a third-degree crime (3-5 years) when the conduct could itself be an offense, and violating an extreme risk protective order is fourth degree. Violating a sexual assault survivor protection order follows the same fourth-degree/disorderly persons split as domestic violence orders. N.J.S. 2C:29-9(b)-(e); N.J.S.A. 2C:25-30; N.J.S. 2C:43-3, 2C:43-6, 2C:43-8 |
| New Mexico | A restrained party convicted of violating an order of protection issued under the Family Violence Protection Act commits a misdemeanor (less than 1 year and/or up to $1,000). A second or later conviction requires at least 72 consecutive hours in jail that cannot be suspended or deferred. The court must order full restitution and professional counseling, and police may arrest without a warrant on probable cause and must also file any other criminal charges arising from the incident. A person subject to such an order who possesses a firearm commits a separate misdemeanor. NMSA 1978, 40-13-6(D)-(G); 30-7-16(A)(2), (D); NMSA 1978, 31-18-15, 31-19-1 |
| New York | Disobeying a court order, including an order of protection, is criminal contempt in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days). Criminal contempt in the first degree, a class E felony (up to 4 years), covers violating an order of protection by threatening, following, repeatedly calling or communicating, physical contact or menace meant to cause fear, damaging the protected person's property over $250, or violating a stay-away order within 5 years of a prior contempt conviction. Aggravated criminal contempt, a class D felony (up to 7 years), covers violating an order of protection and causing physical injury, or repeat first-degree contempt after a prior aggravated contempt conviction or within 5 years of a prior first-degree conviction. N.Y. Penal Law 215.50(3), 215.51(b)-(d), 215.52; 70.00, 70.15 |
| North Carolina | Knowingly violating a valid domestic violence protective order (including emergency, ex parte and out-of-state orders) is a Class A1 misdemeanor (up to 150 days). A third violation after two prior convictions is a Class H felony, as is violating a stay-away order while carrying a deadly weapon or entering a domestic violence shelter where the protected person lives. Committing a felony while knowingly violating an order raises it one class (except Class A and B1 felonies). Officers must arrest when there is probable cause of a violation. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-4.1; 15A-1340.17, 15A-1340.23 |
| North Dakota | Since January 1, 2026, North Dakota's protection orders (domestic violence, sexual assault and disorderly conduct orders) are 'civil protection orders'. Once the restrained person has been served, a first violation is a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days) and also contempt of court; after a conviction, a second or later violation is a class C felony (up to 5 years). Orders issued before 2026 under the older sections stay in effect for their stated period. N.D.C.C. 14-07.7-17, 14-07.7-20; 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Recklessly violating a protection order or consent agreement (a domestic violence civil or criminal order, a stalking or sexually oriented offense order, a juvenile order, or another state's order) is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 180 days, $1,000). It is a fifth-degree felony (6-12 months) after a prior conviction for violating a protection order, or two prior menacing, stalking or related convictions involving the same person, and a third-degree felony (9-36 months) if the person violates the order while committing a felony. The court may also order up to five years of electronic monitoring for some violations. R.C. 2919.27; 2929.14, 2929.24 |
| Oklahoma | Violating an emergency, ex parte, final or out-of-state protective order after being served is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. A second or subsequent violation is a Class D1 felony (prison term under 21 O.S. § 20N, not more than 5 years for a first felony) or a $2,000 to $10,000 fine, or both. A violation that causes physical injury is a misdemeanor with 20 days to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $5,000; a repeat injury violation is a Class D1 felony with 1 to 5 years or a $3,000 to $10,000 fine. Courts must also order domestic abuse counseling or treatment, generally for at least 52 weeks. 22 O.S. § 60.6; 21 O.S. § 20N |
| Oregon | Violating a Family Abuse Prevention Act restraining order is handled as contempt of court in the court that issued the order or the county where the violation happened. Unless another statute provides otherwise, punitive contempt sanctions are up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $500 or 1% of annual gross income (whichever is greater), probation or community service, for each violation. Separately, violating a court's stalking protective order is a crime: a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days), or a Class C felony (up to 5 years) with a prior stalking or stalking-order conviction or in certain other repeat circumstances. ORS 107.728(2), 33.105(2); 163.750 |
| Pennsylvania | Violating a Protection From Abuse order is punished as indirect criminal contempt. Police must arrest for a violation on probable cause and seize firearms used or threatened, and a hearing must be scheduled within 10 days. The sentence may include a fine of $300 to $1,000 plus imprisonment of up to six months, or the fine plus supervised probation of up to six months, along with other relief; on conviction the court must extend the order at the victim's request. 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6113, 6114 |
| Rhode Island | Violating a Family Court domestic abuse protective order of which the defendant had actual notice is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison, a fine up to $1,000, or both, and can also be punished as contempt of court. Because it is a domestic violence crime, a second misdemeanor domestic violence conviction carries 10 days to 1 year, and a third or later is a felony carrying 1 to 10 years, with no suspended jail sentence. A conviction also bars firearm possession. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 15-15-3(m), (n); 12-29-5(c); 11-47-5(a)(4) |
| South Carolina | Violating a family court order of protection (or a valid out-of-state domestic violence protection order) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine up to $500; the violation may also be punished as contempt of court, with up to 1 year and a fine up to $1,500. Violating a protection order while committing domestic violence raises the charge: to second-degree domestic violence (up to 3 years and a $2,500 to $5,000 fine), first-degree domestic violence (a felony, up to 10 years), or domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature (a felony, up to 20 years), depending on the violence involved. S.C. Code §§ 16-25-20(B)(2), (C)(2), (H), 16-25-65(A)(3), (B); 20-4-60(B) |
| South Dakota | Knowingly violating a domestic abuse protection order, temporary order, recognized out-of-state order or no-contact order is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year, a $2,000 fine, or both). It is a Class 6 felony (up to 2 years) if the violation is also an assault or stalking. After two prior violations within 10 years, a third offense is a Class 6 felony, a fourth a Class 5 felony and a fifth or later a Class 4 felony (up to 10 years). SDCL 25-10-13 |
| Tennessee | Knowingly violating an order of protection or a restraining order (after notice and a chance to be heard, with findings of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking) is a Class A misdemeanor, with a fine of $100 to $2,500 and up to 11 months, 29 days in jail, served consecutively to any sentence for the same facts unless the judge orders otherwise. Possessing a firearm while subject to a qualifying order is a separate Class A misdemeanor, and violating a bond no-contact order is also a Class A misdemeanor. The statute does not set a separate repeat-offense grade. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-113; § 40-35-111(e) |
| Texas | Violating a protective order or bond condition in a family violence, sexual assault, stalking or trafficking case (for example by committing family violence or communicating with the protected person in a way the order prohibits) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and a $4,000 fine). It is a state jail felony (180 days to 2 years) if committed while possessing a deadly weapon or in violation of a post-conviction order, and a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years) if the person has two prior convictions or commits an assault or stalking in the violation. Two or more violations within 12 months is a separate third-degree felony (second degree in some cases). Tex. Penal Code §§ 25.07, 25.072; §§ 12.21, 12.34, 12.35 |
| Utah | Intentionally or knowingly violating a protective order, child protective order, ex parte order, criminal protective order or a valid foreign protection order, after being served or present when it was issued, is a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days and a $2,500 fine). It is treated as a domestic violence offense, so a violation committed within 10 years of a prior domestic violence conviction (5 years for a property damage offense) is raised to a third-degree felony (up to 5 years). Utah Code § 76-5-108; § 77-36-1.1(4)(b); §§ 76-3-203, 76-3-204 |
| Vermont | Intentionally violating a relief-from-abuse order, an order against stalking or sexual assault, a protective order concerning contact with a child, or a valid out-of-state order, after being served, carries up to 1 year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. A second or later violation, or a violation by someone previously convicted of domestic assault or aggravated domestic assault, carries up to 3 years and/or $25,000. The court generally orders domestic abuse counseling or a prevention program for violating an abuse prevention order. 13 V.S.A. § 1030 |
| Virginia | Violating a family abuse protective order by going to a prohibited place, committing family abuse or a crime, or contacting the protected person is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months and/or $2,500), and some jail time must be served. A second violation within 5 years involving violence or a threat carries a 60-day mandatory minimum; a third within 20 years involving violence or a threat is a Class 6 felony with a 6-month mandatory minimum. Violating the order while knowingly armed, assaulting and injuring or stalking a protected person, or secretly entering their home is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years). The court also issues a new protective order of up to 2 years. Va. Code § 16.1-253.2; §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Knowingly violating a domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or vulnerable adult protection order (or a similar criminal no-contact or family court order) by contact, threats, coming within a prohibited distance or entering an excluded place is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $5,000), and the court may order electronic monitoring. It is a class C felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000) if the violation involves an assault short of first or second degree, reckless conduct creating a risk of death or serious injury, or if the person has two prior convictions for violating such orders. RCW 7.105.450(1), (4), (5); RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Knowingly and willfully violating key provisions of an emergency or final domestic violence protective order (or a protective bail, probation or parole condition, or certain restraining orders) is a misdemeanor: 1 day to 1 year in jail, including at least 24 hours actually served, and a $250 to $2,000 fine. A second offense is a misdemeanor of 3 months to 1 year, with at least 30 days actually served, and a $500 to $3,000 fine. A third or later offense within 10 years of a prior conviction is a misdemeanor of 6 months to 1 year, with at least 6 months actually served, and a $500 to $4,000 fine. W. Va. Code § 48-27-903 |
| Wisconsin | Knowingly violating a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction is punishable by a fine up to $10,000, up to 9 months in jail, or both; violating a harassment restraining order or injunction carries the same maximum. Knowingly violating a child abuse injunction, or intentionally violating an individual-at-risk injunction, is punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 9 months, or both. The protective order statutes read do not set a higher penalty for repeat violations. Wis. Stat. §§ 813.12(8), 813.125(7), 813.122(11), 813.123(10) |
| Wyoming | Willfully violating a domestic violence order of protection is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $750, or both. Willfully violating a stalking order of protection carries the same penalty. Stalking someone in violation of a temporary or permanent protection order is felony stalking, punishable by up to 10 years. The protection order statutes read do not set a separate higher penalty for repeat violations. W.S. 6-4-404, 7-3-510(c), 6-2-506(e)(iv) |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.