A Personal Protection Order, or PPO, is an Order issued by the Circuit Court to protect an individual from physical violence, threats of violence, harassment, and/or stalking. A Personal Protection Order is quasi-criminal in nature and once signed by a Judge, are entered into the law enforcement lien system. They contain substantial punitive consequences for violations including incarceration.
There are 3 types of PPO’s:
- Domestic Relationship PPO
To get a domestic relationship PPO you must show the Judge that the abuser is likely to assault, threaten, harass, or stalk you. You must also show that you and the abuser have a domestic relationship. - Nondomestic (Stalking) PPO
The purpose of a nondomestic PPO is to protect you from stalking or harassing behavior if you do not have a domestic relationship with the abuser. You must show at least two incidents of harassment, Harassment is contact you do not want. - Nondomestic (Sexual Assault) PPO
The purpose of a nondomestic sexual assault PPO is to protect you from a person who has sexually assaulted you or threatened to sexually assault you when you do not have a domestic relationship with that person.
It is crucial that any attorney representing a client who is the victim of domestic violence discuss the prospect of obtaining a PPO where that client’s safety is a concern.