Restraining Orders

You can file for a protective order for sexual offenses, stalking, or cyber-harassment if:

• a person 18 or over committed or attempted to commit an act of nonconsensual sexual contact, sexual penetration, lewdness, stalking, or cyber-harassment against you; and
• you do not qualify for a domestic violence restraining order.

A parent or guardian can file for a protective order for sexual offenses, stalking, or cyber-harassment on your behalf if you are a minor.² If the person abusing you is your parent, guardian, or another person having custody and control over you, however, the law requires that you or someone you know instead report the abuse to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families for investigation and possible legal action.³

If the person abusing you is a also minor and unemancipated, you would instead file a complaint under a proceeding that deals with juvenile delinquency. See section 2A:4A-30 on our Selected New Jersey Statutes page to read this part of law.⁴ 

¹ N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-14(a)(1)
² N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-14(a)(2)
³ N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-14(b)(2)
⁴ N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-14(b)(1)