Harassment can involve a single incident of physical or sexual abuse. Victims of harassment have the ability to obtain a restraining order from the court. Harassing gestures must have a considerable detrimental effect or be intended to have a considerable detrimental effect on the individual's privacy, safety, or security.
Harassment Restraining Orders differ from Orders for Protection. Harassment Restraining Orders involve parties who are not related or do not live in the same household. Orders for Protections involve family members or members of a significant relationship. If you have any additional questions regarding the differences in these two orders, please refer to our Orders for Protection in the next section.
To obtain a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO), you need to file a Petition and Affidavit with Cass County Court Administration. The Sheriff's Office does not charge for the service of any Harassment Restraining Order.