Alameda County Superior Court
Criminal Court Self Help - Protective Orders

If you are a victim of or a witness to a crime, and you can show good cause for believing that the defendant has harmed, intimidated, or tried to dissuade you from testifying, or is likely to harm, intimidate or dissuade a victim or a witness, any court with jurisdiction over a criminal matter may issue orders including, but not limited to, the following:

A criminal case is filed with the court by the law enforcement agency.

On the defendant’s first court appearance, the Judge will review the appropriate documents and if good cause appearing, and/or at the request of the District Attorney’s Office, will order the issuance of a protective order protecting the victim(s) and/or witness(s) in the case. The protective order will be specific in stating what orders the defendant is to comply with.

The defendant will be served with a copy of this protective order. If the victim/witness is present in court, they will be given a copy of the protective order. If the victim/witness is not present in court, a copy of the protective order will be mailed to them by the Clerk’s Office.

The arresting agency is notified of the issuance of the protective order and the automated warrant system is updated with information from the protective order.