An Order of Protection is an order issued by a court in Missouri pursuant to the Adult Abuse Act that restrains a person from abusing, stalking or harassing another person. Unlike a Restraining Order, an Order of Protection carries criminal penalties for violation.

Experience suggests that Orders of Protection might be most effective with men who ordinarily obey the law and have something to protect, such as their standing in the community or their employment. For the batterer who has contempt for all authority, has a history of other criminal behavior or is determined to control his partner at all costs, an Order of Protection might offer little increased safety to a woman.

On the other hand, having an Order of Protection can enhance local law enforcement’s efforts to assist the victim, and repeated violations of a protection order eventually are likely to result in legal consequences for a perpetrator.