Comments about ‘Bill protecting subjects of protective orders to be reworked’

I was a victim of one of these instances where a supposed "victim" was given a protective order against me. It was based on lies and should never have been given to her. She used it to harass me, get me fired from my professional job, tried to ruin my name in the community, etc. I was arrested on a warrant which no one could give me specific info on, spent a night in jail(first time and only time I've ever been in jail), was paraded around in shackles, strip-searched, and humiliated by the guards(Sheriff). Ultimately, I was found innocent of all charges, but what got me was that the accuser was not punished in some way. She continued to try to harass me. I ended up having to leave town. I understand the system is to protect abuse victims, but when false accusations are made, the person making the false accusations should be punished. This kind of thing hurts those who really need the help (sort of like the little boy who cried wolf).

Oh - the times I have seen the protective order used as a sword rather than a shield. Thank goodness someone is finally addressing this issue.

It is about time the Lawmakers are looking at the issues that the protective sword has brought on. People really abuse the so called protective order, they use it to hurt others to give themselves a sense of power. Only if the Lawmakers really knew how many families have been put on the backburner until the children grow older to realize the true circumstances that encountered when they were younger. That is when the petitioner shows their true colors. I hope something happens to end this.

I couldn't agree more. My husband has had to literally stop seeing his children for fear of what his ex-wife might say. She has filed several police reports with no cause and once had a zealous prosecutor file charges because he allegedly flipped the woman off while passing her oon Redwood Road. In reality he was waving to his children. It took three court appearances before we were able to convience a prosecutor that his ex wife was lying. Thank goodness his eyes were finally opened. Otherwise who knows what might've happened. While we wait for his kids to grow up so that they are not under her controling thumb anymore, we pray they will at least look into the circumstances that surrounded his absence in their lives. It would be nice if he had other options.

State lawmakers have nothing better to do than pass bills to protect violent criminals? Such a law would gut the effectiveness of Utah's efforts to protect battered women. Getting a protection order creates many risks because abusive men often use that as an excuse to react violently. Now some badly informed or badly motivated legislators propose to actually increase that risk.

What's next, prosecuting banks for enticing bad check writers? Jailing merchants for inducing shoplifters? This type of victim-bashing law would make Utah a national laughing-stock. In fact, it already has.

What no one points out is that if the subject of the order (the alleged abuser) thinks s/he is being harassed, all s/he has to do is go and get his/her OWN order. it's not like anyone can't make allegations. and someone who makes allegations that his/her victim is harassing him/her but doesn't take any action--i think there's nothing going on there. EVERY abuser says s/he's the actual victim and does not admit his/her own abusive actions. charging people with crimes off those allegations is irresponsible and not based on fact.

What a joke. This law and protection for abused or battered women has become a miss-used legal tool. Understanding the courts need to protect anyone in danger, how can one argue? But, when court disregards the rights of any person(s) and take fiction for fact. we're all in trouble.