Defining Violation of Restraining Order 

Under Penal Code 273.6 PC it is illegal to intentionally violate the terms of a judge issued restraining order against you. PC 273.6 pertains to the four different types of restraining orders in the court system:

1. Domestic Violence Restraining Order: used as a means to protect those who are victims of violence during an intimate relationship
2. Civil Harassment Restraining Order: used as a means to protect those who are victims of violence with people who they are not intimate with, such as a neighbor or co-worker
3. Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order: used as a means to protect those who are 65 or older, or people who suffer from a myriad of disabilities
4. Workplace Violence Restraining Order: used as a means to protect an employee from violence at their workplace

If you intentionally violate the terms of any of the above restraining orders then you could be found guilty of CA PC 273.6.

In order to be found guilty of CA PC 273.6 the prosecutor must prove the following elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. The judge issued a legal restraining order against you
2. You were aware of the restraining order
3. You intentionally violated the terms of that order

If this is your first restraining order violation then the case will likely be tried as a misdemeanor. If you are convicted of the offense then you will:

• Up to $1,000 in fines
• Up to 1-year in county jail

However, if this is your second charge of violating a restraining order and it involves violence or a threat of violence then the prosecutor can charge the crime as either a felony or misdemeanor. If you are convicted of the crime as a misdemeanor then the punishment is the same as the one mentioned above.

If you are convicted of CA PC 273.6 as a felony then you could face:

• Up to 3-years in state prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

Gun Enhancements

If there is a restraining order against you then it is illegal for you to possess, own, acquire, or purchase a firearm during the entirety of the order against you. If you possess a gun during the term of the restraining order against you then you will face a misdemeanor with the same punishments as mentioned above.

However, if you are caught buying, attempting to buy, or receiving a firearm during the term of the restraining order against you then the prosecutor has the option of charging you with a felony or a misdemeanor. If convicted, the punishments are the same as those mentioned above.

Prosecuting CA PC 273.6 

Casting Doubt

It’s imperative to have a full understanding of the law in order to know how the prosecutor will attempt to prove you’re guilty of the offense. As previously stated, in order to be convicted of violating a restraining the prosecutor must prove the three elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. The judge issued a legal restraining order against you
2. You were aware of the restraining order
3. You intentionally violated the terms of that order

The first element of the crime requires that a judge issued a legal restraining order against you. This simply means that the prosecutor must prove that the restraining order is legal and pertains to your jurisdiction. If the restraining order is legal and you violate the terms of that order then the prosecution is that much closer to proving your guilt.

The second element of the crime requires that you have knowledge of the restraining order. This requirement can be met through a few different means:

1. Orally by a judge in court
2. In writing by a third-party
3. Verbally by an officer

If the prosecutor cannot prove that you were made aware of the restraining order then you will likely not be convicted of violation of restraining order CA Penal Code 273.6.

The third element requires that you knowingly violated the terms of the restraining order. If you randomly run into the party who filed the restraining order against you then you are not in violation of the restraining order of the terms, just as long as you quickly leave and do not try to communicate. However, if you choose to ignore the terms of the violation of restraining order then you could be found guilty of violation of restraining order CA Penal Code 273.6.