Which statement is true about protective orders and restraining orders?

• A. A protective order is issued through the criminal court; a restraining order is issued through civil court.
• B. A protective order is issued by civil court; a restraining order is issued by civil court.
• C. A protective order is issued through civil court; a restraining order is issued through criminal court.
• D. Both are criminal orders issued by police.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that protective orders and restraining orders come from different court pathways, which changes who issues them. The statement that a protective order is issued through the criminal court while a restraining order is issued through civil court reflects a common distinction you’ll encounter: protective orders are often tied to criminal cases or criminal proceedings and are issued by a criminal court to safeguard a victim from a defendant, whereas restraining orders are civil remedies granted by civil (or family) court to prevent contact or harassment in a civil proceeding.

This distinction matters in practice because it affects how the orders are sought, what standards apply, and how they’re enforced. Police do not issue these orders themselves; they are court orders that are granted by the appropriate court and then enforced by law enforcement.

The other options either imply both orders come from civil court, or both come from criminal processes, or claim they’re issued by police, which isn’t how these orders are typically issued.