Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Victims' Rights

Restraining order

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/rɪˈstreɪnɪŋ ˌɔːdə/nounCommon term

In criminal law & justice, restraining order means: A court order that forbids a person from contacting or going near someone else, usually to protect a victim of violence, threats or harassment.

In Turkish: uzaklaştırma kararı, koruma kararı, yaklaşmama kararı

How it is used

Victims 'apply for' or 'get' a restraining order; courts 'issue' or 'grant' one, and the other person can be arrested for 'breaching' or 'violating' it. American English also says 'protective order', and family courts in England and Wales use 'non-molestation order'.

Example sentences

  1. She got a restraining order against her former partner.

  2. He was arrested for breaching the restraining order.

  3. The restraining order bans him from coming within 200 metres of her home.

Common collocations

  • get a restraining order
  • issue a restraining order
  • breach a restraining order
  • apply for a restraining order
  • domestic violenceViolent, threatening or controlling behaviour by one person against a partner, former partner or family member.
  • victimA person who has been harmed, injured or killed as a result of a crime, or who has lost money or property because of it.
  • complainantThe person who reports a crime and says they were harmed by it, especially in court before it has been decided whether the crime took place.
  • compensationMoney paid to a victim for injury, loss or suffering caused by a crime, either by the offender or through a state scheme.

More terms: Victims' Rights

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.