Walk It Through: The Ex
Repeated communications, a protection from abuse order for up to three years, and indirect criminal contempt.
After a breakup, the partner a nurse used to live with keeps calling and messaging at all hours and waits outside the hospital after shifts.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One nurse and one former partner. Eviction from a shared home, temporary custody, and cyber harassment of a child are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Course of conductMore than one act over a period of time, however short; harassment and stalking are both built on it.
- Misdemeanor of the third degreeThe lowest misdemeanor grade, punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.
- Protection from abuse orderAn order against abuse between family or household members, sexual or intimate partners, or people who share biological parenthood, for a fixed period of up to three years.
- Summary offenseThe lowest grade of offense, punishable by not more than 90 days, with a fine of up to $300 unless a higher fine is set.
- Terroristic threatsCommunicating, directly or indirectly, a threat to commit a crime of violence with intent to terrorize another, or to cause an evacuation or serious public inconvenience.