Data Insights: 28% Increase in Protection Order Filings Since 2019
On any given day in King County, there are likely individuals living in fear of those close to them, unsure of where to turn for help. Civil Protection Orders are a vital legal tool that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office helps people in these situations access, offering an important measure of safety and security.
December 2024 marks the 36th year of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office’s Protection Order Advocacy Program, which has helped protect more than 150,000+ King County residents by obtaining court-ordered protections since its been in existence. Earlier this month, some members of the program sat down with members of the media to share information about their work.
Today, it is easier than ever to seek a protection order thanks to our Protection Order Portal, which launched in June of 2024. The Portal is free to use and was designed to be a user friendly, trauma-informed tool that people who may need a protection order can access anywhere they have internet.
What is a Protection Order?
Civil Protection Orders can restrain the respondent from causing physical harm, stalking or surveilling, contacting the petitioner in anyway, being present at certain places like your home, your kids’ school, your church and gym; and grant possession of essentials like a phone, ID, use of a vehicle, and pets.
The court typically grants orders quickly after filing, and once the protections are put in place the actions or behaviors that are prohibited then considered illegal on the part of the respondent. Law enforcement can then enforce violations of the order to ensure it is being followed. If the respondent commits any kind of assault while the protection order is in place it becomes an automatic felony.
A lot of people have never filed a protection order before and they don’t know where to start or the right protective order to meet their needs. The various types of orders are all based on different statutes and have different requirements.
But you don’t have to make these decisions alone! Our Protection Order Advocates are available to help at every stage of the process to ensure petitioners are applying for the right protection order based on their unique situation.
How Effective Are Protection Orders?
Studies have shown that Domestic Violence Protection orders are effective at reducing violence and increasing safety.
Trends Over Time
In recent years, our office has seen a marked increase in Protection Order filings, with a jump of more than 1,000 filings from 2022 to 2023.
Domestic Violence Protection Orders are by far the most common type of order filed. The large increase in anti-harassment protection orders from 2022 to 2023 likely correlates with the enactment of HB 1320, which went into effect in July 2022.
HB 1320, which the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office worked to pass, overhauled protection order laws in Washington, consolidating multiple different statues under one universal petition (except for Extreme Risk Protection Orders which have a separate process). The result was a much more user friendly and accessible process for petitioners. HB 1320 also made other changes, such as increasing access to remote filing (which has been happening in King County since 2020) and allowing for petitioners as young as 15 years old to file.
Help is Available
Our Protection Order Advocacy Program team is available to help you, both virtually and in-person:
You can also learn more about the Protection Order Process by watching the videos below:
