If you fear for your safety because
you are being threatened with harm, followed, or harassed by another person
(relative or stranger), you can apply for a Stalking or Sexually Oriented
Offense Protection Order. R.C. 2903.214 is designed to protect you if someone is harming,
attempting to harm, threatening, following, stalking, harassing, contacting, or
forcing sexual relations upon you. A Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense
Protection Order is broader in application and applies to persons who may not be
covered under a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order or a Criminal
Protection Order because it applies whether the offender is a family or
household member. A court can order the
Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order for up to five years and
the Order is enforceable by the police just like any other protection order.
The statute defines stalking as
including a pattern of conduct that the stalker knows will cause the victim
mental distress or cause the victim to believe that the stalker will cause
physical harm to her. This must rise to
the level of a “pattern of conduct” and not just a single incident. Other examples may include, threatening you,
making harassing phone calls, sending threatening or harassing letters,
damaging your property, or other conduct which frightens you or causes you
mental distress. If you fear for your safety and well-being due to an individual’s
threats or harassment, contact Joseph Stafford, 216.241.1074, for a consultation to see if the
actions meet the statutory definitions to obtain a Stalking or Sexually
Oriented Offense Protection Order.
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