Sexual Abuse Protection Order (SAPO)
A Sexual Abuse Protection Order (SAPO) is a legal tool in Oregon that helps protect individuals from unwanted sexual contact. It is designed for those who have experienced sexual abuse by a stranger or casual acquaintance.
If you were sexually abused by someone you had a relationship with, consider a Family Abuse Restraining Order or Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Restraining Order instead.
If you need support for sexual abuse or assault, you can call Oregon's 24-hour support and resource line. This service provides free, confidential online chat, phone calls, or text message support to people who've experienced sexual abuse or assault.
Who can apply for a SAPO?
If you're an adult, you can apply for a SAPO if:
- Someone had sexual contact with you without your consent
- The person who abused you was not:
- Someone you previously had a sexual or romantic relationship with
- A family member
- You have good reasons to think that the person who abused you will physically hurt you again
- There is no other court order telling the person to stop contacting you
- You or the other person live in Oregon
- The other person is an adult 18 or older
Applying for a SAPO as a minor
The eligibility rules for minors are complicated. If you're a minor, consult an attorney before applying. You can find an attorney using the Legal Directory on this site.
Minors under 12 must apply for a SAPO through an adult guardian. Children 12 and older can apply independently or with an adult guardian's help.
SAPO and criminal cases
If the person who abused you has been charged with a crime and there is a criminal no-contact order in place, you cannot get a SAPO. However, you may apply for a SAPO if the no-contact order is lifted.
It's important to note that obtaining a SAPO during an ongoing police investigation could impact the case. Consulting with law enforcement or a sexual assault advocate before applying is advisable.
Protections offered by a SAPO
A SAPO can include rules that tell the offender to stop:
- Contacting you
- Intimidating you
- Threatening you or those you live with
- Coming near your home or other places you frequent
Each SAPO is tailored to the individual's needs.
More Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. If a court order in the criminal case says the other person can't contact you (called a criminal no-contact order), you cannot get a SAPO. But if this no-contact order goes away, you could get a SAPO at that time.
If the police are still investigating and there is no criminal case yet, you may want to talk to the police before you apply for a SAPO. Sometimes, getting a SAPO can affect the police investigation.
You may also want to talk to a sexual assault advocate to get help applying for a SAPO. You can find help in your area at the Oregon Sexual Assault Taskforce website.
You can ask the court to include rules in your SAPO to stop the other person from:
- Contacting you
- Intimidating you
- Threatening you or the people you live with
- Going near your home or other places you go often
No two restraining orders are the same. You can choose which protections you need to stay safe. You can also ask a judge for custom protections if other things will help you stay safe.
If the other person does not follow your SAPO, you can call the police for help.
Yes. You will have to provide details about your sexual abuse in your application (called a Petition) for a SAPO.
When you turn in your application, you will also meet with a judge who will review your application. The judge may ask you more questions about your abuse. You can visit this page for more information on how to get a restraining order.
If the other side disagrees with your restraining order, you may also have to go to a contested hearing. At a contested hearing, you will have to testify under oath about your sexual abuse. For more information on contested hearings, visit the contested hearings page.
Your SAPO usually lasts for five years or until January 1, the year after you turn 18, whichever is later. In certain cases, the judge can make your SAPO permanent.
You can also ask to end your order early if you don’t need it any longer by turning in a "Motion to Terminate a Sexual Abuse Protection Order" at the court.
Yes. If you need your restraining order to stay in place longer, you can turn in a "Petition to Renew Sexual Abuse Protective Order" at the court where you got your SAPO. A judge can extend your restraining order if they believe you still need protection. A SAPO can be extended for five years at a time.
If you want to extend your restraining order, you must submit an application to the court before your restraining order ends. The other party can disagree by requesting another court hearing with a judge.
Yes, both sides can request a change to a SAPO order using the "Modifying a Sexual Abuse Protection Order" packet of forms. Turn in these forms at the court where you got your SAPO.