A restraining order (also called a “protective order”) is a court order that can protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed. The person getting the restraining order is called the “protected person.” The person the restraining order is against is the “restrained person.” Sometimes, restraining orders include other “protected persons” like family or household members of the protected person.
For the person to be restrained, having a restraining order against him or her can have very serious consequences:
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He or she will not be able to go to certain places or to do certain things.
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He or she might have to move out of his or her home.
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It may affect his or her ability to see his or her children.
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He or she will generally not be able to own a gun. (And he or she will have to turn in, sell or store any guns they have now and not be able to buy a gun while the restraining order is in effect.)
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It may affect his or her immigration status if he or she is trying to get a green card or a visa.
If the restrained person violates (breaks) the restraining order, he or she may go to jail, or pay a fine, or both