What is a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO)? An HRO is a Court Order that stops someone from harassing you and that the harasser have no contact with you—unless contact is specifically permitted in the Court Order.
To obtain an HRO, the parties do not need to have had a personal relationship, like someone needs for an
Order for Protection (OFP). In Minnesota, harassment for purposes of an HRO means:
- A single incident of physical or sexual assault, a single incident of stalking/harassment;
- A single incident of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images;
- Repeated incidents of intrusive or unwanted acts, words, or gestures that have a substantial adverse effect or are intended to have a substantial adverse effect on the safety, security, or privacy or another, regardless of the relationship between the actor and the intended target;
- Targeted residential picketing;
- A pattern of attending public events after being notified that the actor’s presence at the event is harassing to another.
Minnesota law enforcement now can see HROs filed with the Courts. Previously, the person being protected by the HRO had to carry the HRO with them at all times because HROs were previously not visible to law enforcement. Police could only see OFPs—now they can see OFPs and HROs.
