subject: Basic Information About Harassment Restraining Order [print this page] If a person feels that they are being "stalked" by another human being, he or she can appeal to the court for a harassment restraining ordered or HRO from the person's current location. The restraining order will order that the named individual may not contact the petitioner by any means. Violation of the HRO can result to an arrest and it can even land the person in prison.
This petition is very helpful for victims of stalking but it can also be damaging if it is requested for the wrong reasons. A harassment restraining order is a legal document that requires the person who has harassed another person, or an organization that has sponsored or promoted harassment to stop their behavior. Harassment may refer to repeated invasive and unwanted actions that can endanger a person's safety, privacy, and security. Depending on the seriousness of the case, the harassment restraining order may be effective up to two years. The person who needs an HRO will need to go to court to file a petitioner's affidavit and petition for a restraining order. If the victim of the harassment is still a child, the parents can process the paperwork. If the person has violated a restraining order, he or she will be arrested and convicted. If convicted, the individual may need to pay for fines, jail time, and jail sentence.
If you or you know anyone who has been wrongly accused of violating a harassment restraining order, you must first seek the legal services of a skilled defense lawyer. Speaking to a skilled and experienced lawyer will help you understand the seriousness of the HRO and what you can do to sort out the problem. Since the result to violating an HRO can be quite serious such a long jail time and payment fines, you have to request a hearing to dispute it if you feel that the court order is warranted. Since there may be times when the testimony given by a petitioner to justify his or her actions can be quite questionable and unsubstantial, the court will need to provide you a chance to provide your testimony and evidence thus you will need a skilled defense attorney.
It is definitely very beneficial and important to have a reputable, credible, and experienced defense lawyer. It is not a small issue when you are wrongly conviction for a felony when you have nothing to do with it thus you need to invest for your defense.