WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Tennessee

Statutes: Tennessee

View all
Updated: 
June 21, 2024

39-13-113. Violation of order of protection, restraining order, or no contact order

Currentness

(a) It is an offense to knowingly violate:

(1) An order of protection issued pursuant to title 36, chapter 3, part 6; or

(2) A restraining order issued to a victim as defined in § 36-3-601.

(b) A person violating this section may be arrested with or without a warrant as provided in § 36-3-611, and the arrest shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of § 36-3-619.

(c) A person who is arrested for a violation of this section shall be considered within the provisions of § 40-11-150(a) and subject to the twelve-hour holding period authorized by § 40-11-150(h).

(d) After a person has been arrested for a violation of this section, the arresting officer shall inform the victim that the person has been arrested and that the person may be eligible to post bond for the offense and be released until the date of trial for the offense.

(e) Neither an arrest nor the issuance of a warrant or capias for a violation of this section in any way affects the validity or enforceability of any order of protection, restraining order, or no contact order.

(f) In order to constitute a violation of subsection (a):

(1) The person must have received notice of the request for an order of protection or restraining order;

(2) The person must have had an opportunity to appear and be heard in connection with the order of protection or restraining order; and

(3) The court made specific findings of fact in the order of protection or restraining order that the person committed domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking as defined in § 36-3-601 or was convicted of a felony offense under chapter 13, part 1, 2, 3, or 5 of this title.

(g) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. Notwithstanding § 40-35-111(e)(1), a violation of subsection (a) is punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), and any sentence of incarceration imposed shall be served consecutively to the sentence for any other offense that is based in whole or in part on the same factual allegations. However, the sentencing judge or magistrate may specifically order the sentences for the offenses arising out of the same facts to be served concurrently.

(h)(1) It is an offense and a violation of an order of protection for a person to knowingly possess a firearm while an order of protection that fully complies with 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) is entered against that person and in effect, or any successive order of protection containing the language of § 36-3-606(f) and that fully complies with 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) is entered against that person and in effect.

(2) For purposes of this subsection (h), the determination of whether a person possesses firearms shall be based upon the factors set out in § 36-3-625(f) if the firearms constitute the business inventory or are subject to the National Firearms Act, (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.).

(3) A violation of this subsection (h) is a Class A misdemeanor and each violation constitutes a separate offense.

(4) If a violation of subsection (h) also constitutes a violation of § 36-3-625(h) or § 39-17-1307(f), the respondent may be charged and convicted under any or all such sections.

(i)(1) It is an offense to knowingly violate a no contact order, issued prior to a defendant’s release on bond, following the defendant’s arrest for any criminal offense defined in this chapter, in which the alleged victim of the offense is a domestic abuse victim as defined in § 36-3-601.(2) A violation of subdivision (i)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor. A sentence imposed must be served consecutively to the sentence for the offense for which the defendant was originally arrested, unless the sentencing judge or magistrate specifically orders the sentences for the offenses to be served concurrently.