Domestic Abuse Laws
Oklahoma
2001

Note: This page features auto-scrolling links by statute.

Title 22. Criminal Procedure
Chapter 2 Protection from Domestic Abuse Act

(back to top)

§ 40.3. Victims not to be discouraged from pressing charges--Warrantless arrest of certain persons--Emergency temporary order of protection

A. A peace officer shall not discourage a victim of rape, forcible sodomy or domestic abuse from pressing charges against the assailant of the victim.

B. A peace officer may arrest without a warrant a person anywhere, including his place of residence, if the peace officer has probable cause to believe the person within the preceding seventy-two (72) hours has committed an act of domestic abuse as defined by Section 60.1 of this title, although the assault did not take place in the presence of the peace officer. A peace officer may not arrest a person pursuant to this section without first observing a recent physical injury to, or an impairment of the physical condition of, the alleged victim.

C. When the court is not open for business, the victim of domestic abuse may request a petition for an emergency temporary order of protection. The peace officer making the preliminary investigation shall:

1. Provide the victim with a petition for an emergency temporary order of protection and, if necessary, assist the victim in completing the petition form. The petition shall be in substantially the same form as provided by Section 60.2 of this title for a petition for protective order;

2. Immediately notify, by telephone or otherwise, a judge of the district court of the request for an emergency temporary order of protection and describe the circumstances. The judge shall inform the peace officer of his decision to approve or disapprove the emergency temporary order;

3. Inform the victim whether the judge has approved or disapproved the emergency temporary order. If an emergency temporary order has been approved, the officer shall provide the victim, or a responsible adult if the victim is a minor child or an incompetent person, with a copy of the petition and a written statement signed by the officer attesting that the judge has approved the emergency temporary order of protection and notify said victim that the emergency temporary order shall be effective only until the close of business on the next day that the court is open for business;

4. Notify the person subject to the emergency temporary protection order of the issuance and conditions of the order. Notification pursuant to this paragraph may be made personally by the officer or in writing. A copy of the petition and the statement of the officer attesting to the order of the judge shall be made available to said person; and

5. File a copy of the petition and the statement of the officer with the district court of the county immediately upon the opening of the court on the next day the court is open for business.

D. The forms utilized by law enforcement agencies in carrying out the provisions of this section may be substantially similar to those used under Section 60.2 of this title.

(back to top)

§ 60.2. Protective order--Petition; form; fees; preparation

A. A victim of domestic abuse, a victim of stalking, a victim of harassment, any adult or emancipated minor household member on behalf of any other family or household member who is a minor or incompetent, or any minor age sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years may seek relief under the provisions of the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act.

1. The person seeking relief may file a petition for a protective order with the district court in the county in which the victim resides, the county in which the defendant resides, or the county in which the domestic violence occurred. The filing of a petition for a protective order shall not require jurisdiction or venue of the criminal offense if either the plaintiff or defendant resides in the county. A petition for a protective order filed by a victim that is a family or household member of the defendant shall be given priority for service over other protective orders.

2. When the abuse occurs when the court is not open for business, such person may request an emergency temporary order of protection as authorized by Section 40.3 of this title.

B. The petition forms shall be provided by the clerk of the court and shall be in substantially the following form:

____________________________________________________________________________

IN THE DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR __________ COUNTY

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Case No. _______________


______________________________
( Plaintiff )

vs.

______________________________
( Defendant )

PETITION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER


Plaintiff, being sworn, states:

1. (Check one or more)
[ ] The defendant caused or attempted to cause serious physical harm to
__________.
[ ] The defendant threatened __________ with imminent serious physical
harm.
[ ] The defendant has stalked or harassed __________.

2. The incident causing the filing of this petition occurred on or about
____________
(date)

(Describe what happened:)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

3. The victim and the defendant are related as follows:
(check one)
[ ] married
[ ] divorced
[ ] parent and child
[ ] persons related by blood
[ ] persons related by marriage
[ ] present spouse of an ex-spouse
[ ] persons living in the same household
[ ] persons formerly living in the same household
[ ] biological parents of the same child
[ ] persons in a dating relationship
[ ] persons in a previous dating relationship
[ ] not related

4. (Answer this question only if the plaintiff is filing on behalf of someone else, minor or incompetent)

The plaintiff and the victim are related as follows:
[ ] married
[ ] divorced
[ ] parent and child
[ ] persons related by blood
[ ] persons related by marriage
[ ] present spouse of an ex-spouse
[ ] persons living in the same household
[ ] persons formerly living in the same household
[ ] biological parents of the same child
[ ] persons in a dating relationship
[ ] persons in a previous dating relationship
[ ] not related

5. (Check A or B)
(A) [ ] The victim is in immediate and present danger of abuse from the defendant and an emergency ex parte order is necessary to protect the victim from serious harm. The plaintiff requests the following relief in the emergency ex parte order: (check one or more)
[ ] order the defendant not to abuse or injure the victim.
[ ] order the defendant not to telephone, visit, assault, molest, stalk or otherwise interfere with the victim.
[ ] order suspension of child visitation orders due to physical
violence or threat of abuse by the defendant or a threat to violate a custody order by the defendant.
[ ] order the defendant not to threaten the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to cease stalking the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to cease harassment of the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to leave the residence located at __________ on or before __________.
[ ] order the defendant who is a minor child to leave the residence located at __________ by immediately placing the defendant in any type of care authorized for children taken into custody pursuant to subsection A of Section 7303-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Circle age of defendant: Thirteen (13), fourteen (14), fifteen (15), sixteen (16), or seventeen (17) years.

[ ] ________________________________ (describe other relief that plaintiff requests)

(B) [ ] The plaintiff does not request an emergency ex parte order.

6. Plaintiff requests the following order to be made by the court following notice to the defendant and a hearing: (check one or more)
[ ] order the defendant not to abuse or injure the victim.
[ ] order the defendant not to telephone, visit, assault, molest, stalk or otherwise interfere with the victim.
[ ] order suspension of child visitation orders due to physical violence or threat of abuse by the defendant or a threat to violate a custody order by the defendant.
[ ] order the defendant not to threaten the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to cease stalking the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to cease harassment of the victim.
[ ] order the defendant to leave the residence located at __________ on or before __________.
[ ] order the defendant who is a minor child to leave the residence located at __________ by immediately placing the defendant in any type of care authorized for children taken into custody pursuant to subsection A of Section 7303-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Circle age of defendant: Thirteen (13), fourteen (14), fifteen ( 15), sixteen (16), or seventeen (17) years.

[ ] __________ (describe other relief that plaintiff requests)
[ ] order the defendant to pay attorney fees of the plaintiff in the sum of __________ on or before __________.
[ ] order the defendant to pay the court costs and costs of service of
process of this action in the sum of __________ on or before %y(10)

6D.
[ ] order the defendant to pay the law enforcement agency a photo evidence fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) for photographs taken of the victim's injury or crime scenes.

7.
[ ] Victim is a resident of the county wherein this petition is filed.
[ ] Defendant is a resident of the county wherein this petition is filed.
[ ] The domestic abuse occurred in the county where this petition is filed, but neither the victim nor defendant are residents of this county.

8. WARNING: Whoever makes a statement or allegation in this Petition for Protective Order but does not believe that the statement or allegation is true, or knows that it is not true, or intends thereby to avoid or obstruct the ascertainment of the truth, may be found guilty of perjury. Pursuant to Sections 500 and 504 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
the penalty for perjury, or subornation of perjury, is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years.

9. Plaintiff, being first duly sworn on oath states: That I have read the above and foregoing document, understand the meaning thereof, and declare, under penalty of perjury, that the facts and statements contained herein are believed to the best of my knowledge to be the
truth, and nothing but the truth.


_________________________________________
Plaintiff

Witness my hand and seal, affixed on the _______ day of ______________, 19__.

_________________________________________
Court Clerk, Deputy Court Clerk, or
Notary Public

____________________________________________________________________________

C. No filing fee or service of process fee shall be charged the plaintiff or victim at the time the petition is filed. The court shall assess court costs, service of process fees, and filing fees against the defendant at the hearing on the petition, if the petition is granted, or against either party if the petition is denied. No peace officer shall require payment of service of process fees in advance of service of any petition or order nor shall any peace officer deny service of a petition for a protective order or any ex parte, emergency or final protective order due to nonpayment of a process service fee in advance.

D. The person seeking relief shall prepare the petition as set forth above or, at the request of the plaintiff, the court clerk or the victim-witness coordinator shall prepare or assist the plaintiff in preparing the same.

(back to top)

§ 60.3. Emergency ex parte order and hearing--Emergency temporary ex parte order of protection

A. If a plaintiff requests an emergency ex parte order pursuant to Section 60.2 of this title, the court shall hold an ex parte hearing on the same day the petition is filed. The court may, for good cause shown at the hearing, issue any emergency ex parte order that it finds necessary to protect the victim from immediate and present danger of domestic abuse, stalking, or harassment. The emergency ex parte order shall be in effect until after the full hearing is conducted. Provided, if the defendant, after having been served, does not appear at the hearing, the emergency ex parte order shall remain in effect until the defendant is served with the permanent order. If the terms of the permanent order are the same as those in the emergency order, or are less restrictive, then it is not necessary to serve the defendant with the permanent order. Any emergency ex parte order entered shall state: "IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING, A PERMANENT ORDER MAY BE ISSUED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO YOU." An emergency ex parte order authorized by this section may include the following:

1. An order to the defendant not to abuse or injure the victim;

2. An order to the defendant not to telephone, visit, assault, molest, stalk, harass or otherwise interfere with the victim;

3. An order suspending child visitation due to physical violence or threat of abuse by the defendant or a threat to violate a custody order by the defendant or an order requiring supervised visitation with the child in a neutral setting.

4. An order to the defendant not to threaten the victim;

5. An order to the defendant not to stalk the victim;

6. An order to the defendant not to harass the victim;

7. An order to the defendant to leave the residence located at __________ on or before __________; or

8. An order removing the defendant who is a minor child from the residence by immediately placing the child in any type of care authorized for children taken into custody pursuant to subsection A of Section 7303-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B. An emergency ex parte protective order authorized by this section shall include the name, sex, race, date of birth of the defendant, and the dates of issue and expiration of the protective order.

C. If a plaintiff requests an emergency temporary ex parte order of protection as provided by Section 40.3 of this title, the judge who is notified of the request by a peace officer may issue such order verbally to the officer or in writing when there is reasonable cause to believe that the order is necessary to protect the victim from immediate and present danger of domestic abuse. When the order is issued verbally the judge shall direct the officer to complete and sign a statement attesting to the order. The emergency temporary ex parte order shall be in effect until the close of business on the next day the court is open for business after the order is issued.

(back to top)

§ 60.4. Service of emergency ex parte order, petition for protective order and notice of hearing--Full hearing--Final protective order

A. A copy of the petition, notice of hearing and a copy of any emergency ex parte order issued by the court shall be served upon the defendant in the same manner as a summons. The fee for service of an emergency ex parte order, petition for protective order, and notice of hearing shall be the same as the sheriff's service fee plus mileage expenses. Emergency ex parte orders shall be given priority for service and can be served twenty-four (24) hours a day when the location of the defendant is known. When service cannot be made upon the defendant by the sheriff within three (3) days following the filing of a petition for a protective order or the issuance of an emergency ex parte order, the sheriff may contact another law enforcement officer or a private investigator to serve the defendant. An emergency ex parte order, a petition for protective order, and a notice of hearing shall have statewide validity and may be transferred to any law enforcement jurisdiction to effect service upon the defendant. The return of service shall be submitted to the sheriff's office in the court where the petition, notice of hearing or order was issued. When the defendant is a minor child who is ordered removed from the residence of the victim, in addition to those documents served upon the defendant, a copy of the petition, notice of hearing and a copy of any ex parte order issued by the court shall be delivered with the child to the caretaker of the place where such child is taken pursuant to Section 7303-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B. Within fifteen (15) days of the filing of the petition for a protective order, the court shall schedule a full hearing on the petition, regardless of whether an emergency ex parte order has been previously issued, requested or denied. Provided, however, when the defendant is a minor child who has been removed from the residence pursuant to Section 7303-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the court shall schedule a full hearing on the petition within seventy-two (72) hours, regardless of whether an emergency ex parte order has been previously issued, requested or denied. The court may schedule a full hearing on the petition for a protective order within seventy-two (72) hours when the court issues an emergency ex parte order suspending child visitation rights due to physical violence or threat of abuse. If service has not been made on the defendant at the time of the hearing, the court shall continue the hearing. A petition for a protective order shall automatically renew every fifteen (15) days until the defendant is served. A petition for a protective order shall not expire and must be dismissed by court order. Failure to serve the defendant shall not be grounds for dismissal of a petition or an ex parte order unless the victim requests dismissal.

C. At the hearing, the court may impose any terms and conditions in the protective order that the court reasonably believes are necessary to bring about the cessation of domestic abuse against the victim or stalking or harassment of the victim or the victim's immediate family including, but not limited to, counseling or treatment in a program certified by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the defendant's expense. If the court grants a protective order and the defendant is a minor child, the court shall order a preliminary inquiry in a juvenile proceeding to determine whether further court action pursuant to the Oklahoma Juvenile Code [FN1] should be taken against a juvenile defendant.

D. Final protective orders authorized by this section may include the following, in addition to any other order specified by the court:

1. An order to the defendant not to abuse or injure the victim;

2. An order to the defendant not to telephone, visit, assault, molest, stalk, harass or otherwise interfere with the victim;

3. An order suspending child visitation rights due to physical violence or threat of abuse by the defendant, or a threat to violate a custody order, or an order requiring supervised visitation with the child in a neutral setting;

4. An order to the defendant not to threaten the victim;

5. An order to the defendant to cease stalking the victim;

6. An order to the defendant to cease harassment of the victim;

7. An order to the defendant to leave the residence located at __________ on or before __________;

8. An order awarding attorney fees;

9. An order requiring payment of court costs and service of process fees; and

10. An order requiring a preliminary inquiry in a juvenile proceeding pursuant to the Oklahoma Juvenile Code.

E. A final protective order authorized by this section shall include the name, sex, race, and date of birth of the defendant and the dates of issue and expiration of the protective order.

F. After notice and hearing, protective orders authorized by this section may require the plaintiff or the defendant or both to undergo treatment or participate in the counseling services necessary to bring about cessation of domestic abuse against the victim. Either party or both may be required to pay all or any part of the cost of such treatment or counseling services. The court shall not be responsible for such cost.

G. When necessary to protect the victim and when authorized by the court, protective orders granted pursuant to the provisions of this section may be served upon the defendant by a peace officer, sheriff, constable, or policeman or other officer whose duty it is to preserve the peace, as defined by Section 99 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

H. Any protective order issued on or after November 1, 1999, pursuant to subsection C of this section shall be for a fixed period not to exceed a period of three (3) years unless extended, modified, vacated or rescinded upon motion by either party or if the court approves any consent agreement entered into by the plaintiff and defendant. The court shall notify the parties at the time of the issuance of the protective order of the duration of the protective order. Upon the filing of a motion by either party to modify, extend, or vacate a protective order, a hearing shall be scheduled and notice given to the parties. At the hearing, the issuing court may take such action as is necessary under the circumstances. If a child has been removed from the residence of a parent or custodial adult because of domestic abuse committed by the child, the parent or custodial adult may refuse the return of such child to the residence, unless upon further consideration by the court in a juvenile proceeding, it is determined that the child is no longer a threat and should be allowed to return to the residence.

I. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and willfully seek a protective order against a spouse or ex-spouse pursuant to Section 60 et seq. of this title for purposes of harassment, undue advantage, intimidation, or limitation of child visitation rights in any divorce proceeding or separation action without justifiable cause. The violator shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding one (1) year or by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. A second or subsequent conviction under this subsection shall be a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a period not to exceed two (2) years, or by a fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

J. A protective order issued under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act, Section 60 et seq. of this title, shall not in any manner affect title to real property, purport to grant to the parties a divorce or otherwise purport to determine the issues between the parties as to child custody, visitation or visitation schedules, child support or division of property or any other like relief obtainable under Sections 101 et seq. of Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes, except child visitation orders may be temporarily suspended or modified to protect from threats of abuse or physical violence by the defendant or a threat to violate a custody order. When granting any protective order for the protection of a minor child from violence or threats of abuse, the court shall allow visitation only under conditions that provide adequate supervision and protection to the child while maintaining the integrity of a divorce decree or temporary order.

(back to top)

§ 60.5. Access to protective orders by law enforcement agencies

A. Within twenty-four (24) hours of the return of service of any ex parte or final protective order, the clerk of the issuing court shall send certified copies thereof to all appropriate law enforcement agencies designated by the plaintiff. A certified copy of any extension, modification, vacation, cancellation or consent agreement concerning a final protective order shall be sent within twenty-four (24) hours by the clerk of the issuing court to those law enforcement agencies receiving the original orders pursuant to this section and to any law enforcement agencies designated by the court.

B. Any law enforcement agency receiving copies of the documents listed in subsection A of this section shall be required to ensure that other law enforcement agencies have access twenty-four (24) hours a day to the information contained in the documents which may include entry of information about the ex parte or final protective order in the National Crime Information Center database.

(back to top)

§ 60.6. Violation of ex parte or final protective order or foreign protective order--Penalties

A. Except as otherwise provided by this section, any person who:

1. Has been served with an ex parte or final protective order or foreign protective order and is in violation of such protective order, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by a term of imprisonment in the county jail of not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment; and

2. After a previous conviction of a violation of a protective order, is convicted of a second or subsequent offense pursuant to the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a term of imprisonment in the county jail of not less than ten (10) days and not more than one (1) year. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the person may be punished by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).

B.

1. Any person who has been served with an ex parte or final protective order or foreign protective order who violates the protective order and without justifiable excuse causes physical injury or physical impairment to the plaintiff or to any other person named in said protective order shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a term of imprisonment in the county jail for not less than twenty (20) days nor more than one (1) year. In addition to the term of imprisonment, the person may be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).

2. In determining the term of imprisonment required by this section, the jury or sentencing judge shall consider the degree of physical injury or physical impairment to the victim.

3. The provisions of this subsection shall not affect the applicability of Sections 644, 645, 647 and 652 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. The minimum sentence of imprisonment issued pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection A and subsection B of this section shall not be subject to statutory provisions for suspended sentences, deferred sentences or probation, provided the court may subject any remaining penalty under the jurisdiction of the court to the statutory provisions for suspended sentences, deferred sentences or probation.

D. In addition to any other penalty specified by this section, the court may require a defendant to undergo the treatment or participate in the counseling services necessary to bring about the cessation of domestic abuse against the victim or to bring about the cessation of stalking or harassment of the victim.

E. Ex parte and final protective orders shall include notice of these penalties.

F. When a minor child violates the provisions of any protective order, the violation shall be heard in a juvenile proceeding and the court may order the child and the parent or parents of the child to participate in family counseling services necessary to bring about the cessation of domestic abuse against the victim and may order community service hours to be performed in lieu of any fine or imprisonment authorized by this section.

(back to top)

§ 60.7. Statewide and nationwide validity of orders

All orders issued pursuant to the provisions of the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act, Section 60 et seq. of this title, shall have statewide and nationwide validity, unless specifically modified or terminated by a judge of the district courts.

(back to top)

§ 60.11. Protective order--Statement required--Validity

In addition to any other provisions required by the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act, or otherwise required by law, each ex parte or final protective order issued pursuant to the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act shall have the following statement printed in bold-faced type or in capital letters:

"THE FILING OR NONFILING OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THE PROSECUTION OF THE CASE SHALL NOT BE DETERMINED BY A PERSON WHO IS PROTECTED BY THIS ORDER, BUT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE PROSECUTOR. NO PERSON, INCLUDING A PERSON WHO IS PROTECTED BY THIS ORDER, MAY GIVE PERMISSION TO ANYONE TO IGNORE OR VIOLATE ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER. DURING THE TIME IN WHICH THIS ORDER IS VALID, EVERY PROVISION OF THIS ORDER IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNLESS A COURT CHANGES THE ORDER. THIS ORDER SHALL BE IN EFFECT FOR THREE (3) YEARS UNLESS EXTENDED, MODIFIED, VACATED OR RESCINDED BY THE COURT. A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00) OR UP TO ONE (1) YEAR IN THE COUNTY JAIL, OR BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT. A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER WHICH CAUSES INJURY SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY TWENTY (20) DAYS TO ONE (1) YEAR IN THE COUNTY JAIL OR A FINE OF UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), OR BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT. POSSESSION OF A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION BY A DEFENDANT WHILE THIS ORDER IS IN EFFECT MAY SUBJECT THE DEFENDANT TO PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW EVEN IF THIS ORDER DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT THE DEFENDANT FROM POSSESSING A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION."

(back to top)

§ 60.12. Foreign protective orders--Presumption of validity--Peace officers immune from liability

A. It is the intent of the Legislature that all foreign protective orders shall have the rebuttable presumption of validity, even if the foreign protective order contains provisions which could not be contained in a protective order issued by an Oklahoma court. The validity of a foreign protective order shall only be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Until a foreign protective order is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction it shall be given full faith and credit by all peace officers and courts in the State of Oklahoma.

B. A peace officer of this state shall be immune from liability for enforcing provisions of a foreign protective order.

(back to top)