Protection (Restraining) Orders

A Protection Order, also referred to as a restraining order, means “any order that prohibits the Restrained Person from contacting, harassing, injuring, intimidating, molesting, threatening, touching, stalking, sexually assaulting or abusing any Protected Person, or from entering or remaining on premises, or from coming within a specified distance of a Protected Person or premises, or from taking, transferring, concealing, harming, disposing of, or threatening harm to an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by a Protected Person, or any other provision to protect the Protected Person from imminent danger to life or health.”


Civil Protection Orders

A civil protection order may be requested by anyone from a court if there has been harm, the threat of harm, or an act of violence. The process involves first getting a temporary order from the court. A date to return to court will be given, usually two weeks later, for the permanent order. In the interim, the restrained party must be served with the order and given the date of the next appearance.

FAQs on obtaining a protection order:
https://www.courts.state.co.us/Self_Help/protectionorders/

Instructions and forms for obtaining a protection order:
https://www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Forms_List.cfm?Form_Type_ID=24


Location/Filing Times

The Protection Order Courtroom is located in the Denver City and County Building at 1437 Bannock Street, Courtroom 159. The phone number is 720-865-7285.

Protection Order paperwork must be turned in by 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, except court holidays.


Child Care

Small children are not allowed in the Protective Order Courtroom. If you are unable to find child care on your own, there is drop-in child care available at the Warm Welcome Child Care Center Denver, located at the Lindsey- Flanigan Courthouse, 1st Floor, 520 W. Colfax Avenue, Denver.


Fees

There are court fees and a fee for serving the paperwork. If you are indigent, the court filing fee may be waived. The court fees are also waived if you are a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or elder abuse.


Assistance

For assistance with obtaining a protection order:

Project Safeguard (domestic violence, stalking, sex assaults only)
If you are the victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, Project Safeguard may be able to assist you. Project Safeguard staffs an office in the City and County Building, room 177.
720-618-3482
Website:  https://psghelps.org/

Rose Andom Center
1330 Fox Street, Denver
720-337-4400
www.roseandomcenter.org

Staff from the Denver District Attorney’s Office, including the victim advocates, are not able to assist you with civil court proceedings.


Criminal Mandatory Protection Orders

A criminal mandatory protection order is an order required by state law as a condition of release on bail/bond that is issued by the judge against the defendant when he or she first appears in court. The order stays in effect until the end of the case and through the term of a sentence. If the case is declined or dismissed or the defendant is found not guilty at trial, the mandatory protection order will be canceled. The order restrains the defendant from harassing, molesting, intimidating, retaliating against, tampering with or having any contact with the victim. If you have not received a copy of the criminal protection order or have questions regarding the conditions of the order, contact your victim advocate.
A criminal protection order is similar to a civil protection order in what it does, except that a criminal protection order is mandatory, and is not permanent.

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