GREEN BAY, Wis — More often than not restraining orders are designed to try to keep people safe, from a domestic violence situation. But did you know that in the case of harassment, getting a restraining order can cost hundreds of dollars?
Just this week, according to Brown County court documents, a Green Bay woman decided not to file for a restraining order because of the price tag that comes along with it.
Court documents say that in early December, just off of Western Avenue in Green Bay, Celio Jaimes-Gomez kidnapped his ex girlfriend, held her at knife point in his apartment and then threatened to kill her.
Police were able to stop the attack and authorities ultimately charged Gomez with attempted first degree intentional homicide. But according to the criminal complaint, just days earlier, the victim did not obtain a restraining order against Gomez because of the cost associated with it.
At the Golden House in Green Bay, a non-profit that serves domestic violence victims, they help men and women file restraining orders every day.
“Any victim who is a victim of domestic violence can come in and request to meet with either myself or a couple of other advocates who are trained on restraining orders,” says Katie Knapp the Lead Advocate at the Golden House.
Knapp says her staff can help their clients do the work associated with filing restraining orders, free of charge.
"Doing the paperwork, collecting a statement, typing it up and then heading over to the court house to then file it," says Knapp.
Filing a restraining order for domestic violence does not have a fee associated with it, but a harassment restraining order typically costs about $245, if none of the fees are waived.
"The harassment one is more that stalking behavior, repeated contact with no legitimate purpose," says Knapp.
Golden House staff says their clients with lower incomes, who are assisted with state programs, often get the $245 fee for the harassment restraining order waived. But they say for some who are unaware of how to go through the process, the perceived price tag could be a deterrent for going through with the process.
"So, it's definitely a difficult to do it on your own. It's a complicated system. There is a lot of where do I go? How do I file it? There are a lot of steps that need to be taken. If you're not aware of where to go next or do the whole process in its entirety, it can be confusing," adds Knapp.
It's worth noting that it's not just Brown County but it's statewide, as far as what kind of restraining orders do or don't have a cost in Wisconsin.
