What Is a Colorado Protection Order?

A Colorado protection order, often referred to as a restraining order, is a court-issued demand that an alleged abuser avoid making contact with his or her victim. While domestic violence cases are the most common scenario where a protection order would be used, other cases that might create the need for the order include stalking, sexual assault or unlawful sexual contact, abuse of an elderly or at-risk adult, or when someone has been physically assaulted or threatened by another person.

There are three types of protection orders available to victims of abuse in Colorado, including:

• A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO): This is a protection order that is available to abuse victims who are fearing for their immediate safety. The order lasts up to 14 days, at which time a Permanent Restraining Order (PRO) can be issued if needed.
• A Permanent Restraining Order (PRO): Permanent Restraining Orders can last forever if need be, or can be modified or terminated by a judge if the situation warrants. However, the PRO must be in place for at least two years before the court will entertain a request to terminate it by the person against whom the restraining order is issued.
• An Emergency Protection Order (EPO): This is a temporary restraining order, lasting only three days, which can be issued by the police during hours when the court cannot be accessed. The victim is encouraged to seek a TRO as soon as the court opens up and he or she is able. This is generally only done in domestic cases such as child custody or divorce.

There is a fourth type of Colorado protection order known as a Mandatory Protection Order, which is issued against a criminal defendant, preventing him or her from interacting with the victim of the crime or any witnesses to it.

Here's What You Need to Know About Colorado Protection Orders

A protection order provides a number of provisions, depending on the unique details of the situation. Common provisions in a Colorado protection order include:

• Restraining an abuser from causing harm to the victim, a minor child in the household, or household belongings.
• Restraining a person from contacting the protected party or children living in the household.
• Preventing the restrained person from entering the household or accessing the victim’s property.
• Protecting the victim from having the restrained person show up at his or her workplace or school.
• The order can also extend restraints against the restrained party toward household pets.

How can I Get a Colorado Protection Order?

If you need a Colorado protection order, you can obtain one through the following steps:

• Gather the facts you need to show the court why a protection order is necessary. The type of behavior the judge will be looking for when considering the order include incidents of verbal abuse, physical abuse, threats, or damage to property.
• The requesting party must complete an official form known as Verified Complaint/ Motion for Civil Protection Order. In order to fill out this form, you will need to have information such as the reason you are seeking the order, where you live and work, information about any children you share with the individual you are seeking the order against, and whether there are any current protection orders in place or active criminal cases.
• File this form with the Clerk of the Court.
• A temporary protection order hearing will be set, generally for the same day as you file the complaint. This hearing is very short and the person who is the subject of the restraining order is not present.
• A judicial officer issues a temporary protection order and a permanent protection order hearing is scheduled for two weeks from the date of the initial hearing in order to determine if a permanent protection order is required.
• The party you have sought the restraining order against must be served with a copy of the restraining order and information about the upcoming hearing. The order must be served by an employee of the Sheriff’s Office. You cannot serve a restraining order on the other party yourself, nor can you pay a private process server to do so, but if the other party is not formally served, you will not be able to move forward with requesting the permanent order.
• A hearing is held to determine if the TRO should be converted to a PRO.

What Can I Do If I Have a Colorado Protection Order Against Me?

If you are the subject of a Colorado protection order, it is important to understand that if you break the provisions of the order, you could face criminal penalties including up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines for the first offense. Do not have any contact with the victims listed in the order. Contact an experienced attorney who can provide assistance in the hearing in order to prevent your TRO from becoming a PRO. If you have already had a permanent restraining order taken out against you, you may ask the judge to modify or terminate that order after it has been in place for at least two years. Judges are more likely to dismiss the order if you have not violated it, you have committed no other times, and the victim no longer feels that they need the PRO.