Military Domestic Violence

Protection orders targeting military personnel are affected by similar regulations as other domestic issues in a military context. In that military context, PPO’s are called civilian protection orders (CPO). There are also MPOs which protect military personal from someone else.

What happens if my domestic abuser is in the military?

He will enjoy certain procedural protections to prevent unfairness against a person who might be posted out of state or overseas. This is especially crucial for a service member because a PPO might bar them from owning or carrying firearms. It may also result in lost pay, the inability to re-enlist, or even a discharge from the military.

These due process regulations allow the service member to request a 90 day (three month) stay on the hearing if military duty prevents him from attending it. It also allows them to request that the court reopen a case with a default judgement if certain requirements are met (see section on military divorce). A CPO is just as effective on a military base as it is anywhere else. For additional information, click here.

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