Lana Hollerud

Crime Victims Resource Center

The Crime Victims Resource Center provides advocacy and support for crime victims in Mower County. One area that Crime Victims Resource Center receives many requests for information about, and assistance with, is restraining orders.

Many times police officers have offered restraining orders as a solution for people who are dealing with difficult neighbors, boyfriends, girlfriends, classmates, relatives, etc., and a restraining order can indeed be a powerful tool in certain circumstances.

Restraining orders are court orders — judges’ orders — which restrict people from certain types of behavior. There are two types of restraining orders — Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) and Orders for Protection (OFP). Both of these court orders are no contact orders which restrict specific people from contact and behavior for a specified period of time.

OFPs and HROs come out of civil court and have significant differences from each other. An OFP has a relationship requirement, an HRO does not. Another significant difference is that an OFP affidavit must include recent physical abuse and/or recent threats of physical abuse. Minnesota statutes define physical abuse as “physical harm, bodily injury, or assault — hitting, kicking, slapping, or pushing.” A person who seeks an HRO does so because of repeated, unwanted contact from another person that is intended to have a substantial adverse effect. An HRO cannot address possession of a home (if both parties share a residence), property division, or custody/parenting time, all of which an OFP can address.

Many victims of domestic violence or harassment find it helpful to have an advocate support them through the OFP or HRO process. If you would like to explore these options with a Crime Victims Resource Center advocate please give us a call at 507-437-6680 for assistance. All services of CVRC are provided free of charge.

The Crime Victims Resource Center is part of Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea and Austin, is located at 101 14th Street NW. For more, visit www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org. Lana Hollerud can be contacted at 507-434-1833 or at hollerud.lana@mayo.edu.