In situations that involve allegations of domestic violence, restraining orders can be a common tool for people who feel they have experienced abuse to gain safety from their alleged abusers. But one common concern is whether filing a restraining order will make personal information about this situation available to the public. Read on to learn more about privacy protections and confidentiality related to restraining orders.

What Is a Restraining Order?

A restraining order is a protective order that prohibits someone from contacting or being within a certain distance of a specified person. Violating a restraining order is a criminal offense. Common in cases of domestic violence and some other crimes, restraining orders can be an important way for crime victims to protect themselves from harassment or harm.

Are Restraining Orders Public Information?

If you are involved in a situation that leads to a restraining order, whether against you or against someone else, you may worry that everyone will find out about it. The Domestic Violence Central Registry, a database available to both law enforcement and the public, does keep track of all restraining orders. This information is available to the public, but it does require some detailed searching to find it. If you are the one getting a restraining order against someone else, the court will not make your identity or your location publicly available on the Internet in order to protect your privacy.

If someone has gotten a restraining order against you, you may have a similar fear—that everyone will know about this complicated situation, and it could affect your ability to get a job or succeed in society. Restraining orders are civil matters, so they won't show up on general background checks that are sometimes performed when you apply for a job or try to rent an apartment. However, if you have a restraining order against you and you violate the order, that is a criminal offense and will show up on general background checks. But as long as you follow the rules outlined in a restraining order, the issue will remain a civil matter.

Importantly, that doesn't mean that there is no publicly available record of a restraining order. The Domestic Violence Central Registry keeps track of all restraining orders and makes that information available to law enforcement officers and the public. It may take a more detailed search for someone to find out about a restraining order, but the information is out there.

How Joseph D. Lento Can Help

Whether you want to obtain a restraining order against someone or you are the target of such an order, Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team can help you get the legal help you need to present your case in the New Jersey courts. Attorney Lento and his Criminal Defense Team have years of experience working on complicated domestic abuse cases and can advocate for you in the legal system. To discuss a restraining order and the steps you should take to get the results you want, contact us online or call 888-535-3686 to set up a consultation.