A friend of mine is getting a TRO against a former boyfriend who has made verbal threats.

It doesn't seem to impress him in the least.  

I know he runs the risk of being in contempt of court, but if he violates the restraining order, what is most likely to happen to him?

Great way to start the holidays!


Edited to add additional info:
This is the THIRD time she's kicked him out! (Some never learn until it's too late)
He's already tried to get into her apt. while she's at work. (Tried to get into the gate, but she's changed the code)
Hasn't made a direct threat, but close enough. "Some woman is getting hurt tonight"

My opinion is that since this is the third time, and she hasn't learned anything yet, then she gets our help only if she gets an restraining or protective order. My guess, he'll be back before Christmas.

Not a hell of a lot.  I suggest other preparations. ESPECIALLY at her place of work.

Restraining orders are worthless from a LE view.  We can't make any arrests on them and can only document it then if the judge gets pissed enough he can hand down something after finding the defendant in contempt.  

<liberal voice on>  "Of course, it tells the guy he can't come near her"  <liberal voice off>

Restraining orders are why God gave us Moses.  John Moses Browning, that is...

Like said above restraining orders are useless. They are civil law only. Protective orders however are a different story. We keep them on file as hard copies at the station, along with being entered into the premise file on our CAD systems for their employment address(if in the city limits) and their home address. Protective orders are issued through the D.A.'s office, you might have to have a pending family violence case or a former family violence case to get one. But she could at least call and find out.

+1 to the Protective Order.  They WILL cost more.  But they have teeth.  The TRO is civil and really doesn't matter to the popo, only the civil court that issued it.

The paperwork has been filed for a protective order, and a an appointment set for next week with the judge.


Hopefully this will be the end of it.

Quoted: The paperwork has been filed for a protective order, and a an appointment set for next week with the judge. Hopefully this will be the end of it.

Good luck to your friend. Hopefully he is smart enough to stay away now. At least now if he is still there by the time the ofcr gets there he can be sacked up and 10-95'ed to the county or at least have a case filed. I'm sure a couple of trips to the county and the cases filed on him during that will deter him.

I thought there was a spot on the federal yellow form that asked if you had ever had a restraining order filed against you?!?!

Maybe this would prevent this "former boyfriend" from buying a firearm ever again?!?!?