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Restraining Orders

Summary: This page covers Orange County Restraining Orders Attorney.

Orange County Restraining Orders Attorney

A restraining order, sometimes also known as a protective order, is an order issued by a court to prevent a person from harassing, stalking, physically abusing, or threatening another person. Orders are specific to the facts and prohibit specific actions by the person named in the order. Under California Penal Code Section 273.6, it is a crime to violate a restraining or protective order.

Types of California Restraining Orders

There are four main types of restraining orders in California:

  • Domestic Violence Restraining Order. Protects an individual from abuse by someone that the individual has a domestic relationship with, such as a spouse, parent, child, family member, or roommate.
  • Civil Harassment Restraining Order. Protects an individual from a person who is not a family member or does not live with the individual.
  • Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order. Protects people falling under the definition of elderly or dependent adult from physical, emotional, and financial abuse. An elderly person is a person over 65 years of age; a dependent adult is one between the ages of 18 and 64 who suffers from certain disabilities.
  • Workplace Violence Restraining Orders. Order initiated by an employer to protect an employee from violence in the workplace or threats of violence in the workplace.

Levels of Protection for California Restraining orders

Each of the four restraining orders above can have one of the following three levels of protection:

  • Emergency Protective Order (EPO). An EPO is usually issued when a responding officer feels that there is imminent danger of domestic violence, child abuse, abduction or elder abuse. An EPO is valid for five business days or seven calendar days from its issuance, whichever is earlier.
  • Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). TROs are usually valid for two to three weeks. Generally, a court will hold a hearing on whether to issue a Permanent Restraining Order (PRO) before the TRO expires.
  • Permanent Restraining Order (PRO). PROs may last up to three years and may be extended if the court finds that an extension is required. A hearing must be held to issue a PRO.

Violating a California Restraining Order

Under California Penal Code Section 273.6, a prosecutor must prove the following in order to gain a conviction for violating a restraining order: (1) there was a legal protective order issued by a judge, (2) the defendant knew about the protective order, and (3) the defendant intentionally violated the order.

Penalties for violating a California Restraining Order

Violations of protective orders are usually charged as misdemeanors. Penalties for violating protective orders under Section 273.6 include up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If convicted for a second offense, the violation may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony, which carries penalties ranging from probation and up to one year in county jail to three years in state prison and a maximum fine up to $10,000. The fines and penalties are more severe if it is the second conviction in less than one year. If a person suffered bodily injury as a result of the violation of a protective order, there is a statutory minimum of 30 days in jail.

Defenses for violating a California Restraining Order

There are several defenses that can be asserted against charges of violating a restraining order:

  • Lack of Intent. If a person is aware of a protective order, but violates it without knowing, the defendant cannot be convicted of violating a protective order.
  • Lack of Knowledge. If a defendant does not know there is a protective order in place, he or she cannot be convicted of violating it.
  • False Accusation. A protected person can lie about a defendant trying to contact them or trying to come into contact with them. A protected person can also contact a defendant and arrange a meeting that would violate the protective order in order to “set up” the defendant.

Orange County Restraining Order Defense at the Johnson Criminal Law Group

Our criminal defense attorney at the Johnson Criminal Law Group will provide you with experienced legal defense for restraining order violations. If facing possible charges it is important to get in touch with our Orange County criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. We can be reached by phone at (949) 622-5522 or you can send us a message online today.

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Mr. R was charged with embezzling close to $100,000 as a utility salesperson using a scheme to steal customers’ identities. Client avoided any jail time and received probation.

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Thank you, Ms. Johnson-Norris, for your help and support in a very scary, bad time in my life! You were a ray of sunshine in a very dark place. I didn’t have to step foot in a courtroom once; Ms. Johnson-Norris was there for me. Always kept me up to date and informed of the progress of my case, was able to work out a very good deal with the courts. If you need a great attorney that will work for you and with you, then I would highly recommend you hire Lauren Johnson-Norris!

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Ms. Johnson-Norris was very effective in dealing with a juvenile criminal charge, getting it routed to a diversion program, minimizing court appearances, and being supportive to both my son and me.

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Lauren Johnson-Norris changed my life and my family’s in September 2014. I was a troubled young girl with some convictions on my record from my early adult life. I have grown older and changed my life but my past kept rearing its ugly head. I started researching expungement and found Ms. Johnson-Norris, and I am so glad I did. She treated me like a person and as I told her about myself she really engaged in my situation and I felt I was not some number to her but a real person. She expunged two felonies I had. One of them the courts did not want to expunge, but Ms. Johnson-Norris would not take no for an answer and fought for me! She always kept me posted on what was going on. I believe God led me to her. She is very talented and knows what she is doing. She is extremely professional and is not only after your money. She has a heart under her tough Lawyer position that she does so well. She cleared my record and gave me hope for my future, my husband’s and my son! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER. If you had a rough past and are trying to change your life. Go see Ms. Johnson-Norris; she knows what she is doing.

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I want to thank Ms. Johnson-Norris, especially, for all her help during this difficult time. When we could not see the end of the tunnel, she helped us and guided us through the exit. Thank her not only for her professional help but for her emotional and sympathetic support. God bless her.

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I really appreciate everything she has done for me; I cannot thank her enough! Ms. Johnson-Norris did an absolutely thorough job by answering any and all questions that I had. She called me with updates and preferences on how I should be handling the case, which made the whole process very reassuring. The staff was very up to date with all of the follow-up information that was involved with my case that was also extremely beneficial. Ms. Johnson-Norris had a very reassuring aspect about her that made it very easy to let her handle the case. If anything were to go wrong with anyone I am associated with, she will be the lawyer of choice. I really appreciate everything that she has done for me, I can not thank her enough!

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Criminal Defense FaQ

What immediate steps will you take to protect my rights?

We provide immediate crisis command by reviewing the allegations against you and intervening with law enforcement to prevent further exposure. From the moment you retain the Firm, we act as your shield, managing all communications and executing a decisive strategy to protect your liberty and reputation.

We prioritize discretion and exposure management. We understand that a public allegation can be as damaging as a conviction; therefore, our strategy focuses on minimizing the visibility of your case while challenging the prosecution’s narrative to preserve your standing in the community.

We begin by meticulously reviewing the allegations to determine if the conduct even constitutes a crime under the law. We then scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence against the highest standard — proof beyond a reasonable doubt. By analyzing the “who, what, when, where, and how,” we identify the natural questions a jury will have, allowing us to build an expert strategy that derails the prosecutor’s narrative.

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Yes, our firm offers comprehensive legal services in Orange County with a unique focus on “crossover” cases where criminal and juvenile law intersect. Johnson Criminal Law Group provides the specialized expertise necessary to navigate investigations that threaten parental rights and family stability.

When you partner with Johnson Criminal Law Group, you receive 24/7 responsiveness and a clear, strategic plan designed to resolve your legal emergency decisively. We balance aggressive defense strategies with genuine human connection, ensuring you are treated with the respect and transparency you deserve during a crisis

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