What is Legal Advocacy?
WIN’s Legal Advocates provide advocacy and accompaniment through the civil and criminal court system.
Legal Advocates are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.
What Can Legal Advocates Assist With?
WIN does not assist with Emergency Custody situations or Emergency Protection Orders.
If you or your child are in danger, please contact the police.
What Are Civil Protection Orders?
Civil Protection Orders (CPOs) are documents, granted by the civil court, intended to provide victims of certain crimes relief from further harm.
CPOs can be filed whether or not the incident has been reported to the police, however, violations of the order are criminal and must be reported to police.
Are There Different Kinds of Civil Protection Orders?
- Current or former spouses
- Current or former intimate or sexual partners
- Parent and child*
- Family and/or household members who are related by blood*
- Family and/or household members who are related through marriage*
Certain protections may be requested when filing for a PFA including, no contact, temporary custody, eviction, return of property, and relinquishment of firearms.
Sexual Violence Protection Order (SVPO): is intended to assist victims of sexual violence from further harassment or violence when the victim and perpetrator do not have and have never had a family, household, or intimate partner relationship.
Protection From Intimidation Order (PFI)*: is intended to assist in cases where a child under the age of 18 is being harassed or stalked by an adult who has never had a family, household, or intimate partner relationship with the child.
If the victim requesting a CPO is under the age of 18, a parent, legal guardian, or adult household member must file on the minor’s behalf.
*WIN is only able to assist with PFAs against current or former intimate partners or spouses and SVPOs. For assistance with other PFAs or PFIs, victims can file on their own at the courthouse or call MidPenn Legal Services at (717) 264-5354.