Domestic violence refers to violent acts committed by a household member against another, such as the mistreatment of one’s spouse or child abuse. It can refer to physical harm, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse. Generally, it can apply to any partners—married or unmarried, straight or gay, living together or even simply dating. If you are the perpetrator of domestic violence and have been issued a Temporary Restraining Order, it can have permanent future effects and you should not ignore it whether or not you plan to see the person again.
So you got your Temporary Restraining Order, what are the next steps? No, it is not permanent—but it is only temporary until there is a final hearing. During the final hearing, the judge will decide to dismiss it or to convert it into a Final Restraining Order, which comes with serious consequences.
Some individuals who are accused of domestic violence against someone they are dating but not living with do not consider their Temporary Restraining Order to be a major issue of concern, because they do not plan on seeing the person again or living with them. The need to fight the Temporary Restraining Order may not seem crucial, but it is. The effects of ignoring your Temporary Restraining Order stretch beyond your immediate relationship with that person.
If you fail to appear in court to defend your case, you will automatically receive a Final Restraining Order and will have to struggle through the effects of having a Final Restraining Order on your record including loss of employment or difficulty finding employment. Therefore, it is essential that you do not ignore your Temporary Restraining Order, and that you seek representation from an experienced NJ Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible. The attorneys at Schwartz & Posnock can fight vigorously on your behalf to prove that there is not any need for a continuing order to prevent future acts of domestic violence. A judge can dismiss the Temporary Restraining Order, and it goes away completely. If you ignore your Temporary Restraining Order and it is converted into a Final Restraining Order, it becomes permanent.
The effects of having a Permanent Restraining Order do not lapse when the relationship is terminated. Background checks today are pervasive, and many employers will not hire an individual with a Final Restraining Order on their records. For example, it is in Home Depot’s company policy that they do not hire individuals with Final Restraining Orders on their record; other major companies have similar policies. You will also be prevented from possessing firearms or any type of weapon in the future. You will also be entered into a civil registry of domestic violators, and although not a criminal record, these registries are often reviewed for non-domestic violence reasons. You can say goodbye to potentially adopting a child, qualifying as a day care provider or babysitter, or even being a youth league coach.
If you want to learn more about your Temporary Restraining Order, you should contact the NJ Criminal and Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys of Schwartz & Posnock, who are experienced in this area. The attorneys have handled criminal matters throughout the State of New Jersey, for over thirty years. We have a proven track record of excellent results for our clients. Please contact us in any one of our convenient locations, including our Monmouth County office, located in Eatontown (at the Jersey Shore), our Essex County office, located in Livingston, our Union County office, located in Linden, or our Middlesex County office, located in East Brunswick, to discuss your case. You may call the experienced criminal and domestic violence defense attorneys of Schwartz & Posnock at 732-544-1460 or email us at info@schwartzposnock.com.