Maine criminal charge
Violation of protective order in Maine
Violation of protective order is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B.
What is the penalty for violation of protective order in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Violation of protection from harassment order — Violation of a protection from harassment order issued under Title 5, section 4654 or 4655, subsection 1, paragraphs A to C-1, is a Class D crime.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Violation of protection from harassment order — Violation of a protection from harassment order issued under Title 5, section 4654 or 4655, subsection 1, paragraphs A to C-1, is a Class D crime.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Violation of protective order in crimes between family members — Violation of a protective order in crimes between family members issued under Title 15, section 321 is a Class D crime.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Violation of protective order in crimes between family members — Violation of a protective order in crimes between family members issued under Title 15, section 321 is a Class D crime.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Violation of protection from abuse order — standard — Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class D crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 1.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Violation of protection from abuse order — standard — Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class D crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 1.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Violation of protection from abuse order — enhanced — Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class C crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 4.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Violation of protection from abuse order — enhanced — Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class C crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 4.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is violation of protective order classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violation of protection from harassment order | Class D Crime | Violation of a protection from harassment order issued under Title 5, section 4654 or 4655, subsection 1, paragraphs A to C-1, is a Class D crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(1) |
| Violation of protective order in crimes between family members | Class D Crime | Violation of a protective order in crimes between family members issued under Title 15, section 321 is a Class D crime. | 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(2) |
| Violation of protection from abuse order — standard | Class D Crime | Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class D crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 1. | 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(3) |
| Violation of protection from abuse order — enhanced | Class C Crime | Violation of a protection from abuse order issued under Title 19-A, section 4108 or 4110, subsection 3, paragraphs A to G, is a Class C crime as provided in Title 19-A, section 4113, subsection 4. | 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(3) |
Common questions about violation of protective order in Maine
What class of crime is violation of protective order in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: violation of protective order ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B.
Violation of protection from harassment order: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(1)) · Violation of protective order in crimes between family members: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(2)) · Violation of protection from abuse order — standard: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(3)) · Violation of protection from abuse order — enhanced: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 506-B(3))
What are the penalties for violation of protective order in Maine?
Penalties for violation of protective order in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class D Crime up to a Class C Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers violation of protective order?
Violation of protective order is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 506-B (Violation of protective order).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.