What is an order of protection and how does it work?

An order of protection is a court order signed by a judge that can limit contact and restrict certain conduct to address safety issues such as domestic violence, threats, harassment, or stalking. Depending on the facts, the court may issue a family court order in a Family Court matter or a criminal court order in a criminal case. New York law also allows certain temporary orders in criminal cases for victims of crimes other than family offenses. The judge decides what terms apply and how long the order will last, and the court may set an expiration date or schedule a return date for further review.