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Domestic Violence - Get Safe!

IF YOU NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY, CALL 911. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) for advice and help with your escape. Call Safehouse in Denver, 303-318-9989 to find local help and a place to stay in an emergency.

Obtaining A Protection Order

A Protection Order, or what used to be called a restraining order, will help protect you from an abuser. It can help keep you safe! If the abuser violates the protective order, he or she will go to jail. A Protection Order will help stop physical and emotional harassment and give you the time and space you need to get safe.

If you have the resources, you should try to get an appointment with a lawyer immediately. In the event of an emergency, our lawyers at Johnson Sauer can usually see you within an hour, but many others won't be able to see you for several days. In that event, you shouldn't waste any time and you should seriously consider seeking a protective order on your own.

Download the forms you'll need to seek one yourself:

• Instructions for Obtaining a Protection Order
• Verified Complaint for Protection Order
• Affidavit Re Children
• Incident Checklist
• Info Sheet for Registering Protection Order
• Motion to Waive Costs

Where To Go

Denver County - You can request a temporary protective order in Denver County Court, Courtroom 11S, in the Pre-Arraignment and Detention Facility at 1351 Cherokee Street (map), Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.

Also, Project Safeguard holds a clinic on protective orders each weekday at 8:30 a.m. in the same Courtroom, 11S, at the Pre-Arraignment and Detention Facility (map).

Jefferson County - You may visit the self help desk at the Jefferson County Courts and Administration Building (100 Jefferson County Parkway - map). You will be required to complete an application, pay a fee, and be heard by a judge or magistrate on the matter.

The fee may be waived for victims of domestic violence. If you are a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, you may find further assistance by visiting the victim/witness center in the same building. A protection order clinic is available for these victims twice a day, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Temporary Protection Orders

A Temporary Protection Order (TPO) is issued by a judge after a verified complaint is filed in court and a short hearing is held. At this initial hearing, the other party is not even present. The TPO is the first step to a Permanent Protection Order (PPO). A TPO is not enforceable until it is personally served on the other party.

The date for the hearing for a Permanent Restraining Order will be two weeks after the original TPO is granted. On this date, a full evidentiary hearing is held and the defendant can contest the order, giving his or her reasons why the order should not be made permanent.

Emergency Protection Orders

If you qualify for a protection order, you can get an emergency order from the police any time the courts are closed. Emergency protective orders last until the end of the next day the court is open.

Before the EPO expires, you must go to county court to file for a temporary protection order. The temporary order is only good for two weeks, at which time the court will have a hearing to determine if a permanent Protection Order should go into effect.

Permanent Protection Orders

A Permanent Protection Order provides permanent protection from the Defendant's physical or emotional harassment and abuse. Once granted, it lasts until it is revoked by the protected person.

A permanent restraining order has considerable consequences. For example, federal law prohibits the defendant from possessing firearms (there are some exceptions), and it could risk any security clearance.

It's important to note, however, that if the Proective Order addresses child issues, such as parenting time, visitation, and decision making, those provisions are only good for 120 days. After that, those provisions expire.

What Happens When The Protection Order Is Violated?

Colorado provides for criminal prosecution of defendants who violate the protective order. The violation of a protective order is considered Contempt of Court and can give rise to a misdemeanor charge, for violations.

The Violence Against Women Act gives full faith and credit to valid orders of protection issued by other states. This includes all 50 states, Indian tribal lands, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. This means that abused persons can now call upon law enforcement to protect them from abusers nationwide.

Domestic Violence Resources

Web Links

• Denver DA's Resource Page
• SafeHouse
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Video - Webcasts (WARNING - May be disturbing)

• Domestic Violence
• PSA - Restaurant
• Australian PSA
• Children See, Children Do

Podcasts

Survivor Radio Cafe My Life My Soul

Additional Resources:

Webcasts

• Joint Decision Making and Domestic Violence
• Substance Abuse in Divorce Cases
• "Mom" States and "Dad" States
• Child Custody
• Mediation
• "No Fault" Divorce
• Best Interests of Child
• Child & Family Investigator

Articles

• Best Interests of the Child
• How Time is Split
• Supervised Parenting Time
• Drug/Criminal Issues
• Decision Making
• Visitation Schedules
• Divorce Mediation
• Emergency Parenting Time
• Parenting Schedules

Related Blogs - "Denver Divorce Talk"

• Domestic Violence
• Parenting Time - "Custody"
• Supervised Parenting
• Super Star Divorces
• Contempt of Court
• Decision Making