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EspañolCan the abuser have a gun?
Once you get an order of protection, there may be laws that prohibit the respondent from having a gun in his/her possession. There are a few places where you can find this information:
- First, read the questions on this page to see if judges in the CNMI have to power to remove guns as part of a temporary or final order;
- Second, you can read our Federal Gun Laws section to understand the federal laws that apply to all states and territories.
- Third, you can read more about keeping an abuser from accessing guns from the National Resource Center for Domestic Violence and Firearms.
What should I do when I leave the courthouse?
These are some things you may want to consider after you have been granted an order of protection. Depending on what you think is safest in your situation, you may do any or all of the following:
- Review the order before you leave the courthouse. If you see any errors, ask the clerk how to correct them.
- Make several copies of the order of protection as soon as possible.
- Keep a copy of the order with you at all times.
- Leave copies of the order at your workplace, at your home, at the children’s school or daycare, in your car, with a sympathetic neighbor, and so on.
- If you have a security guard or front desk person where you live or work, give him/her a copy of the order and a photo of the abuser.
- Give a copy of the order to anyone who is named in and protected by the order.
- You may want to change your locks and your phone number.
You may also want to make a safety plan. People can do things to increase their safety during violent incidents, when preparing to leave an abusive relationship, and when they are at home, work, and school. Many abusers obey orders of protection, but some do not. So, it is important to build on the things you have already been doing to keep yourself safe. Go to our Safety Planning page for suggestions.
I was not granted an order of protection. What are my options?
If you did not get an order of protection, there are other ways that you can stay safe. It may be a good idea to contact a domestic violence organization to get help. They can help you to develop a safety plan and provide other free services. You can find contact information for domestic violence organizations on our CNMI Advocates and Shelters page.
You may be able to apply for a new order of protection if new acts of violence occur after you were denied the order.
If you think that the judge made an error, you can talk to a lawyer about the possibility of filing an appeal. Generally, appeals are complicated and it is very likely that you will need the help of a lawyer. For more information about appeals, go to our Filing Appeals page.
What can I do if the abuser violates the order?
If the abuser does something that the order says s/he shouldn’t do, you can call the police. You will need to show the police your order and explain what has happened. If the police believe that the abuser violated the order, they can arrest him/her. The abuser will be charged with contempt of court and will have a hearing in front of a judge. If the judge finds the abuser guilty of violating the order, the abuser could be fined up to $100, sent to jail for up to six months, or both.1
1 8 CMC § 1926(a)
Can my order be renewed or extended?
CNMI law does not specifically state whether or not a person can extend his/her order. If your order is about to expire but you are still afraid of the respondent, you may want to ask the judge during a review hearing whether or not your order can be extended. You can also speak to a lawyer to ask if it’s possible to apply for a new order before your current order expires.
