Making Restraining Orders Go Further
If an individual is in an abusive relationship, filing for a restraining order can be a massively powerful tool. It gives the filer ironclad legal options if they continue to be threatened or harassed by a person.
What happens if that’s not enough, though? After all, a restraining order is technically just a piece of paper, right? This comes to the public’s attention rather often when there are news reports about domestic violence, with people often asking “why wasn’t there a restraining order?” when the sad truth is that there sometimes is.
The protection of the court is not always enough as it currently stands, and there are some rather vocal groups calling for restraining orders to be much more comprehensive and powerful. Some of the additional measures that are called for are as follows:
- Police should be able to remove all firearms from a joint house until such time as the filer has been able to remove all their belongings and move out.
- Courts should provide a free safety training course, to teach individuals how to properly respond to any additional threats.
- Financial assistance should be provided for individuals who would otherwise be unable to fund themselves moving.
- Alarm systems should be provided at a discount (or free) to those that are in need of them.
All of these suggestions should be taken with a grain of salt, however, as they do tend to paint a picture of a restraining order that does nothing. That could not be further from the truth, though. Restraining orders can be massively effective, and should always be the first step for a victim of abuse to take. Obviously there is room for improvement, but the first thing to do has always been, and will always be, filing a restraining order.
If you are in need of a restraining order or injunction, do not hesitate to get in touch with a skilled attorney today. They will be able to help you file, and will also be able to advise you on what your next steps should be in order to keep you safe.