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Restraining orders in California: a look at statewide data.
Susan B Sorenson1, Haikang Shen
1School of Public Health, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Violence Against Women
|July 27, 2005
Summary
Restraining orders in California disproportionately affect men, African Americans, and young adults. A significant portion of these orders lacked firearm restrictions, despite legal prohibitions.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Restraining orders are legal tools to protect individuals from harm.
- Domestic violence and related legal interventions are significant public health concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze statewide administrative data on restraining orders in California.
- To identify demographic trends and characteristics of individuals subject to restraining orders.
Main Methods:
- Tabulation of statewide administrative data for all restraining order types.
- Analysis of active restraining orders as of June 6, 2003.
Main Results:
- California had 227,941 active restraining orders, predominantly for domestic violence.
- Highest rates of restraining orders were observed among men, African Americans, and individuals aged 25–34.
- In most cases (72.2%), women were protected and men were restrained; 19.3% involved same-sex restrained and protected persons.
- A notable 9.2% of orders lacked documented firearm restrictions, despite legal prohibitions.
Conclusions:
- Restraining order data reveal significant demographic disparities.
- The absence of firearm restrictions in a percentage of orders warrants further investigation and policy review.