There are many different types of DVOs. Three common kinds of DVO are:
● Full non-contact (stay away)
● Non-intoxication (non-drinking)
● Non-violence (no harm)
A DVO can have different kinds of rules:
- Full non-contact: The defendant cannot be near or talk to the protected person. They cannot talk on Facebook, call or send text messages.
- Non-intoxication: The defendant cannot come near or talk to the protected person when they are drunk or on drugs.
- Non-violence: The defendant can spend time with the protected person but must not hurt, call names, damage property or intimidate the protected person.
A Judge can also make other rules in the DVO, like making the defendant attend counselling or a behaviour change course.
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Who Can Help? (Service Providers)
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What types of things can a domestic violence order stop? |
Facts about: Domestic violence
This fact sheet has information about domestic violence. |
Domestic Violence Orders – Information for people in Need of Protection
This booklet gives information about DVOs.
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This poster explains non-violence DVOs:
Click here to view Non-violence DVOThis picture explains non-intox DVO
Click here to view NON-INTOX DVO POSTERHere is a poster that explains full non-contact DVOs
Click here to view Full non-contact DVO posterGlossary: What these words mean
defendant | The person who the police say broke the law. In domestic violence orders, this is the person whom the order tells not to be violent. |
protected person | The person protected by the domestic violence order (DVO). |
counselling | Counselling is when you talk with a counselor. They are a person who is trained to listen and help you work through relationship problems or other problems in your life. |
domestic violence order (DVO) | A domestic violence order (DVO) is a law-paper from the police or a judge. A DVO has rules to protect people from domestic violence. A DVO can make rules about what a person can do. For example, a no-contact DVO means no going near, calling, texting, or contacting the person protected by the order. A non-intoxication order means no alcohol or drugs. If someone breaks the rules of a DVO they are doing a crime. When the police make the DVO it only lasts until a judge talks about it in court. The judge decides if the DVO keeps going and what rules it has. |