Family law: Do protection orders do what they’re supposed to do?
On Behalf of Porter Ramsay LLP | Nov, 07, 2018 | Family Law
Domestic violence can rip families apart. Family law in British Columbia has rules in place to safeguard individuals against violence, such as protection or restraining orders. But, do they really work? This directive orders the alleged violent person to stay away from his or her intended target who is named in the order. Perpetrators are not to have any interaction or communication with their victims, nor are they allowed to frequent areas where they are known to frequent like places of employment, schools, etc They also must turn in all weapons they own to the authorities.
But if the alleged abusive person has no intention of following the order, how effective can it be? What protective orders can do is to give an alleged victim of abuse some recourse should the person accused of violence violate order. The authorities should be notified immediately if someone has broken that order. This is the real reason for issuing a protective order.
If an abusive person who has a protective order against himself or herself really wants to ignore that order, he or she will. These orders can’t physically stop an individual from being abusive, but it does give the victim the chance for protection by calling police. A victim of domestic violence has to create a circle of protection for himself or herself by alerting family members and friends that he or she may be in possible danger. Protection becomes a team effort.
That team could include police, staff at a women’s shelter and a British Columbia family law lawyer. The goal is to keep people as safe from violence as possible. A lawyer will be able to advise his or her client on what to do if violence is part of the client’s scenario.