What happens if someone violates a restraining order?
Short answer: Violating a protective order is a crime in every state, and police can usually arrest the person. Penalties increase for repeat violations. Here is the rule in each state.
The rule in every state
Each answer links to the statute or official page it comes from (51 of 51 jurisdictions verified).
| State | The rule |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Knowingly violating a domestic violence protection order is a Class A misdemeanor. A second conviction carries at least 30 days in jail, and a third or later conviction is a Class C felony. There is also an extra $50 fine. Police can use their arrest powers to enforce the order, and orders are valid in every county in Alabama. Ala. Code §§ 13A-6-142; 30-5-7(f) |
| Alaska | Violating a protective order is a class A misdemeanor. Orders must warn that violation may be punished by up to one year in jail and a $25,000 fine. An invitation from the protected person does not cancel the order. AS 11.56.740; AS 18.66.130(a),(d) |
| Arizona | Disobeying the order can lead to arrest, with or without a warrant, and prosecution for interfering with judicial proceedings (a class 1 misdemeanor) plus any other crime committed. A.R.S. §§ 13-3602(M),(R); 13-2810 |
| Arkansas | Violating an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor (up to one year in jail and a fine). A violation within five years of a prior conviction is a Class D felony. Police may arrest without a warrant on probable cause, and orders are enforceable in every county. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-15-207; AOC Ex Parte Order of Protection form |
| California | If the restrained person disobeys the order, they can be charged with a crime, go to jail or prison, and/or pay a fine. Taking or hiding a child in violation of the order is a felony. Judicial Council form DV-110 |
| Colorado | Violating a civil protection order is contempt of court and can be prosecuted as the crime of violation of a protection order. The protected person cannot give permission to violate the order; only the court can change it. C.R.S. §§ 13-14-106(1)(b), 13-14-107; JDF 400 |
| Connecticut | Violating a restraining order by not staying away or by contacting the protected person is a class D felony (up to five years); restraining, threatening, harassing, assaulting or attacking them is a class C felony (up to ten years). Entering a home in violation can also be criminal trespass in the first degree. Violating a civil protection order is a class D felony. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46b-15(f), 53a-223b, 53a-223c |
| Delaware | Knowingly violating a protective order is a class A misdemeanor and can also be contempt. Police must arrest, with or without a warrant, when they have probable cause that a known order was violated. Orders are enforceable in every county. 10 Del. C. § 1046(b),(c),(h),(i) |
| District of Columbia | Violating a temporary or civil protection order can be prosecuted as criminal contempt or as a misdemeanor, each punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine. 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 your home, school or work, contacting you, or committing violence) is generally a first-degree misdemeanor. Violations can also be enforced through civil or criminal contempt, and police can arrest. The injunction is enforceable in every Florida county. Fla. Stat. §§ 741.31(4)(a), 741.30(6)(d), (9) |
| Georgia | Violating a family violence or dating violence order (such as stay-away, no-contact or distance terms) is a misdemeanor offense. O.C.G.A. § 16-5-95; GCFV Benchbook ch. 3 |
| Hawaii | Knowingly or intentionally violating a TRO or order for protection is a misdemeanor. A first conviction for violating an order for protection carries a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail and a $300–$500 fine; a second or later conviction carries at least 45 days and a $500–$1,000 fine, plus required domestic violence intervention. Report violations to police (911). HRS §§ 586-4(e), 586-11; Hawaii Judiciary self-help |
| Idaho | If the respondent had notice of the order, violating it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $5,000. Police may arrest without a warrant on probable cause. Idaho Code § 39-6312 |
| Illinois | Knowingly violating key parts of an order (such as no abuse, exclusive possession, stay-away, no entry, or firearm terms) is the crime of violation of an order of protection, and violating child-custody terms can be child abduction. It can be prosecuted along with any other crime. 750 ILCS 60/223(a); 720 ILCS 5/12-3.4 |
| Indiana | Knowingly or intentionally violating a protection order is the crime of Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; it can be a Level 6 felony with a prior unrelated conviction. Ind. Code § 35-46-1-15.1 |
| Iowa | Violating a protective order is punishable by contempt or as a simple misdemeanor, and carries a mandatory jail sentence (served on consecutive days) that cannot be deferred or suspended. Iowa Code § 664A.7 |
| Kansas | Knowingly violating a PFA order is a class A person misdemeanor; violating an extended (up to lifetime) order is a severity level 6 person felony. Entering a home in violation can also be criminal trespass, and abuse can also be charged as assault, battery or domestic battery. K.S.A. 21-5924(b), 60-3107(h) |
| Kentucky | Violating an order after being served or notified is contempt of court and a crime. It is a Class A misdemeanor; a third or later violation within 5 years that involves physical force or a threat of physical harm is a Class D felony. Police may arrest; you can also ask the issuing court for contempt or go to the county attorney. KRS 403.763 |
| Louisiana | Willfully disobeying a served TRO or a protective order is the crime of violation of protective orders. A first conviction can bring a fine up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both; penalties increase for repeat convictions and for violations involving battery, a crime of violence, or going armed to the protected person's home, school or work. You can call the police, and you can also ask the court to hold the abuser in contempt. La. R.S. 14:79 |
| Maine | Violating an order after actual notice is a Class D crime. It is a Class C crime if the violation of a final order involves assault or reckless conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury, or if the person has 2 or more prior violation convictions. Police may arrest without a warrant on probable cause, even if they did not see the violation. Some money-related terms are enforced by contempt instead. 19-A M.R.S. §4113 |
| Maryland | Violating certain terms (such as contact, harassment, abuse, or staying away) is a misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for a first offense, and up to 1 year and/or $2,500 for a later offense. Police may arrest. You can also file a Petition for Contempt (CC-DC-DV-007) for violation of any term. Md. Code, Fam. Law §4-509 |
| Massachusetts | Violating an abuse prevention order is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or up to 2.5 years in a house of correction. The court must also usually order a certified batterer's intervention program. Police must use every reasonable means to enforce the order. M.G.L. c. 209A, §7 |
| Michigan | Call 911 or local police. A respondent 17 or older who violates a PPO faces immediate arrest and criminal contempt: up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $500, in addition to penalties for any other crime. Respondents under 17 are handled in juvenile court. If police do not arrest, you can file a motion to show cause with the court. MCL 600.2950(11)(a), (23) |
| Minnesota | Knowingly violating an OFP is a misdemeanor with at least 3 days in jail, and also contempt of court. It is a gross misdemeanor within 10 years of a prior domestic-violence-related conviction, and a felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000) after two or more prior convictions within 10 years or if the person has a dangerous weapon. Police must arrest without a warrant on probable cause, and the person is held at least 36 hours unless a judge releases them sooner. Minn. Stat. §518B.01, subd. 14 |
| Mississippi | Violating a DAPO is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in county jail or a fine of up to $1,000. Call 911 or law enforcement; charges can be brought where the violation happened. Instead, the issuing court can hold the person in contempt, but not both for the same violation. Miss. Code Ann. §93-21-21 |
| Missouri | Violating key terms of an ex parte or full order (violence, stalking, sexual assault, custody, contact initiated by the respondent, entering your home, work or school, or a stay-away distance) after notice is a class A misdemeanor; a repeat violation within 5 years is a class E felony. Police must arrest when they have probable cause that a respondent with notice committed abuse in violation of the order, even if they did not see it. RSMo §455.085.2, .7, .8 |
| Montana | Knowingly violating an order is a crime: first offense up to $500 and/or up to 6 months in county jail; second offense $200-$500 and 24 hours to 6 months in jail; third or later offense $500-$2,000 and 10 days to 2 years. Only the respondent can be cited, not the petitioner. Some violations may also be charged as stalking. MCA 45-5-626 |
| Nebraska | Knowingly violating a domestic abuse or sexual assault protection order after service or notice is a Class I misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class IV felony for a second, a Class IIIA felony for a third, and a Class IIA felony for a fourth or later. Violating a harassment order is a Class II misdemeanor (Class I for repeat offenses). Call the police; the person will be arrested. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§26-118, 26-119 |
| Nevada | Intentionally violating a temporary order is a misdemeanor. Violating an extended order is a misdemeanor the first time, a gross misdemeanor the second time, and a category D felony after two or more prior violations. Each act can be charged separately. In some situations (threats, prior violations, intoxication), the arrested person cannot be released on bail for at least 12 hours. NRS 33.100; NRS 33.030(5) |
| New Hampshire | Knowingly violating a protective order is a class A misdemeanor and cannot be reduced to a lesser charge. Police must arrest a defendant who violates a temporary or final order (without a warrant within 12 hours, on probable cause) and hold them until arraignment. Later abuse offenses within 6 years can be charged at a higher level. RSA 173-B:9 |
| New Jersey | If the defendant violates the contact restraints (Part 1), report it to local police; police will arrest the defendant and file a criminal charge. Violations of financial or parenting terms (Part 2) are enforced through the Family Division. Contact before a judge dismisses the order can lead to criminal prosecution. NJ Courts, Domestic Violence self-help page and FAQ |
| New Mexico | Violating the order can be charged as a misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, and the respondent may also be held in contempt of court. Only the restrained party can be arrested for violating the order. NMSA 1978, §40-13-6; NM Supreme Court Form 4-965 |
| New York | Report a violation to the Family Court, call the police, or contact a domestic violence advocate. The protected person cannot violate their own order and cannot be arrested for contacting the restrained person; only the restrained person is legally obligated to avoid contact. NYS OPDV, Orders of Protection; N.Y. CPL 140.10 |
| North Carolina | Knowingly violating a protective order is a Class A1 misdemeanor. It becomes a Class H felony after two prior convictions, if the person has a deadly weapon while failing to stay away, or if they enter a domestic violence shelter where the protected person lives. Police must arrest on probable cause for violating stay-away or no-harassment terms. You can call police, go to the magistrate, or file a Motion for Order to Show Cause for contempt. N.C.G.S. §50B-4.1 |
| North Dakota | Once the respondent has been served, a first violation is a class A misdemeanor and is also contempt of court. A second or later violation after a conviction is a class C felony. Police must arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause that the order was violated, even if they did not see it. N.D.C.C. §§ 14-07.7-17, 14-07.7-18 |
| Ohio | Violating a protection order is a first-degree misdemeanor. It becomes a fifth-degree felony if the person has a prior conviction for violating a protection order (or certain repeat related offenses against the same person), and a third-degree felony if committed while committing a felony. R.C. 2919.27(B) |
| Oklahoma | Violating a served emergency, ex parte or final protective order is a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine and/or 1 year in jail). A second or later violation is a felony. A violation that causes physical injury carries at least 20 days in jail, and a repeat injury violation is a felony. Police must arrest without a warrant when they have reasonable cause to believe a served order was violated. 22 O.S. §§ 60.6, 60.9 |
| Oregon | Police must arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe a served FAPA restraining order was violated. Violations are handled as contempt of court, either in the court that issued the order or in the county where the violation happened. ORS 133.310(3); ORS 107.728(2) |
| Pennsylvania | Police can arrest without a warrant on probable cause that the order was violated, even if they did not see it. Violating a PFA is indirect criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of $300 to $1,000 plus up to 6 months in jail or up to 6 months of supervised probation. Other crimes may also be charged. 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6113(a), 6114(a)-(b) |
| Rhode Island | Violating a protective order after actual notice is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 1 year in jail, plus other domestic violence penalties. It can also be contempt of court. District Court handles adult violations. Superior Court civil restraining order violations are civil, not arrestable offenses. R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-15-3(m)-(n), (q); RICADV Restraining Orders page |
| South Carolina | Every order must state that violating it is a criminal offense punishable by 30 days in jail or a $200 fine, or may be contempt of court punishable by up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,500. Entering a domestic violence shelter where a household member lives while subject to an order is a separate crime. S.C. Code § 20-4-60(B) |
| South Dakota | Knowingly violating a temporary or final protection order is a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is a Class 6 felony if the violation also involves assault or stalking, and repeat violations within 10 years become felonies (Class 6 for a third, Class 5 for a fourth, Class 4 for a fifth or more). SDCL 25-10-13 |
| Tennessee | Police must arrest without a warrant when they have reasonable cause to believe the order was violated (an ex parte order can be enforced by arrest once the respondent was served or knew of it). Violations can be punished as civil or criminal contempt, and violating a protective order is also a misdemeanor crime under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-113. Possessing a firearm while under a qualifying order is a Class A misdemeanor. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-3-611, 36-3-610, 39-13-113 |
| Texas | Violating a protective order is a Class A misdemeanor under Penal Code § 25.07. It becomes a state jail felony in some cases (for example, violating while possessing a deadly weapon) and a third-degree felony if the person has two or more prior convictions or the violation involves assault or stalking. It can also be punished as contempt (up to a $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail). Tex. Penal Code § 25.07(g); Tex. Fam. Code § 85.026 |
| Utah | Knowingly violating a protective order after being served (or being present when it was issued) is a class A misdemeanor, and is a domestic violence offense subject to increased penalties. Each order has a criminal section (violations are crimes) and a civil section. Utah Code 76-5-108; 78B-7-603(6) |
| Vermont | Intentionally violating an abuse prevention order after being served is a crime punishable by up to 1 year in prison and/or a $5,000 fine; a second offense (or one after certain domestic assault convictions) carries up to 3 years and/or $25,000. It may also be prosecuted as criminal contempt. 13 V.S.A. § 1030(a)-(b); 15 V.S.A. § 1103(j) |
| Virginia | Violating key provisions of a family abuse protective order (stay away, no abuse, no crimes, no contact) is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with higher penalties and mandatory jail for repeat offenses; some violations (such as while armed or causing injury) are felonies. Violations can also be contempt of court. Va. Code §§ 16.1-253.2, 16.1-279.1(D), 18.2-60.4 |
| Washington | Knowingly violating the main restraint provisions of a domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or vulnerable adult protection order (no violence or threats, no contact, stay-away, exclusion, distance limits, pet provisions) is a gross misdemeanor. An assault in violation of an order that is not first- or second-degree assault is a class C felony. RCW 7.105.450 |
| West Virginia | Knowingly and willfully violating key provisions of an emergency or final protective order is a misdemeanor: 1 day to 1 year in jail (at least 24 hours actually served) and a $250 to $2,000 fine. Second and third offenses carry longer mandatory jail time and higher fines. Police must immediately arrest when they observe a knowing violation. W. Va. Code §§ 48-27-903, 48-27-1001 |
| Wisconsin | Knowingly violating a TRO or injunction is punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 9 months in jail. Police must arrest when they have probable cause that an order was violated. Letting the respondent into your home is not a violation by you. Wis. Stat. § 813.12(7)-(8) |
| Wyoming | Willfully violating an order of protection is a crime under W.S. 6-4-404 and can lead to immediate arrest; violations that amount to stalking may bring felony stalking penalties. The order applies statewide. W.S. 35-21-104(b), 35-21-106(c) |
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.