An Order of Protection only works when you know how to use it.

• Once an Order of Protection is in place, if any act of abuse is committed as defined under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, the abuser has committed a crime - a violation of an Order of Protection; and can be arrested if the police are called.
  
  
• If the abuser has been excluded from the home by an Order of Protection and comes to the residence in violation of the order, he/she can be arrested. The abuser does not have to enter the home to be in violation; merely being on the property is a violation.  If the abuser has been ordered to stay away from you and makes contact, the abuser can be arrested.

Violations of remedies of the OP other than those listed above require civil court enforcement through a contempt proceeding (i.e. failure to pay child support; failure to attend counseling as ordered).

Keep Your Order of Protection With You At All Times

It is very important to keep your OP with you at all times.  Make several copies and keep one in a safe place.  The print on the order will start to fade after awhile so it is important to have a legible copy.  Give your local police department a copy of your order (especially if the incident happened somewhere other than where you live).  This gives the police department immediate notice of the existence of the OP.  Give additional copies to security at your workplace, babysitters, daycare and school, neighbors and any adults who are also listed on the Order of Protection.

If your abuser destroys your copy of the OP or you lose it, you can get another copy of your OP from the clerk's office in the courthouse where you received it.