Criminal No Contact Orders in Rhode Island - What Constitutes a Violation?

A "no contact order" means that the defendant isorder expires when the sentence period is finished. A
precluded from having any contact and orno contact order also expires if the case is dismissed
communication with the victim or the person underor the defendant is found not guilty. However, be
the protection of the no contact order. This includescareful because there may also be another restraining
but is not limited to letters, emails, text messages ororder issued as a result of a divorce or Family Court
messages delivered through a third party. This articlematter or a District Court restraining order.
pertains to Rhode Island (RI) no contact orders.A person who is on probation or a probation
In other words if a person is under a no contactattached to a suspended sentence must be even
order and sees the victim in public they must leavemore vigilante in order to not violate the no contact
the area immediately and not acknowledge theorder. A violation of a no contact order is a crime in
victims existence. A person cannot even say "hi" ifitself which is also a violation of the conditions of
they walk by the victim by chance on the street.probation, filing or bail. A person on probation, during
Be very careful! A person can be arrested fora one year filing or bail can be held at the ACI if they
violating a no contact order even if the victim initiatesare accused of violating a no-contact order.
the contact and calls the defendant. A person can beFor example if a person is on probation, filing or bail, a
charged with breaking a no contact order even ifsingle phone call made by the defendant to a victim
invited by his wife to come back to the marital home.under the protection of a no contact order probably
Even if the victim tells you that the no contact ordermeans a minimum of ten 10 days in jail at the ACI.
has been dropped, do not take the victims word forWe are not talking about the local town jail but the
it. You must see the piece of paper signed by theACI. If a person has a suspended sentence the
judge dismissing the no contact order before anyamount of jail time for violating a no contact order
contact or communication is initiated. A no contactcould be substantial.