What happens if you violate a harassment order in Massachusetts?

What is the punishment for a violation of a 258E order? A violation of 258E is a criminal offense. The violator can be fined up to $5,000, or imprisoned for up to 2 ½ years, or both. Someone convicted under 258E must also pay a fine of $25.

What is the penalty for violating a restraining order in Massachusetts?

209A §7) makes it a crime to violate the terms and conditions of restraining orders in Massachusetts. A conviction of this offense permits a judge to sentence an individual to up to two and one half years in the county house of correction and or a fine of up to five thousand dollars.

How to get a harassment prevention order in Boston?

To get a Harassment Prevention Order you file a Complaint for Protection from Harassment in any District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Juvenile Court, or Superior Court that covers the area where you live. Click here to see the Complaint form, Affidavit form, and Instructions.

How to respond to abuse and harassment court orders?

Find information about getting or responding to abuse and harassment prevention orders and restraining orders. The abuse prevention law (Chapter 209A) is there to protect you against someone who is abusing you. The abuse prevention law (Chapter 209A) is designed to protect victims from abuse.

Who is the plaintiff in a harassment prevention order?

In court, the plaintiff is the person who asks the court to issue the order. The defendant is the person the order is issued against. What would you like to do?

How long does a harassment prevention order last?

A Harassment Prevention Order issued at a 10 day hearing can be in effect for up to one year. If you go to court on the date when the extended order is set to end, you can ask the court to extend the order for whatever additional time is reasonably necessary to protect you or to make a permanent order.

What constitutes harassment in Massachusetts?

Harassment is defined under Massachusetts statutes as “willfully and maliciously” engaging in behavior that alarms a person or would cause a reasonable person emotional distress. The acts can occur in person, over the telephone, or over the Internet via email or social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat.

What is restraining order in Massachusetts?

A restraining order or protective order is a legal order issued by a state court that requires one person to stop harming another. In Massachusetts, there are abuse prevention orders, harassment prevention orders, and extreme risk protection orders. Legal Information.

What does no contact order mean in Massachusetts?

A no-contact order prohibits somebody from being in physical or telephone contact with somebody else. In most cases, the court must specifically express the distance the restrained party must keep from the other.

What is a harassment restraining order?

A harassment restraining order, also sometimes referred to as an HRO, is a legal document that requires an individual who has engaged in harassment or an organization that has sponsored or promoted harassment to stop the offending behavior. Harassment most often refers to repeated intrusive…