Protective orders.

Existing law authorizes a court with jurisdiction over a criminal matter to issue a protective order upon a good cause belief that harm to, or intimidation or dissuasion of, a victim or witness has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur, including an order protecting victims of violent crime from all contact, or contact with the intent to annoy, harass, threaten, or commit acts of violence, by the defendant. Under existing law, the court is required to consider, at the time of sentencing, issuing a protective order, which may be valid for up to 10 years, in a case in which a criminal defendant has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence. Under existing law, contempt of a court order is a misdemeanor, as specified. This bill would also require the court to consider issuing a protective order in a case in which the defendant has been convicted of specified sex crimes, including rape, spousal rape, and crimes for which a person is required to register as a sex offender. Under existing law, a willful and knowing violation of a protective order or stay-away court order issued relating to a victim or witness in a pending criminal proceeding involving domestic violence, issued as a condition of probation after a conviction in a criminal proceeding involving domestic violence or elder or dependent adult abuse, or issued under other specified conditions, constitutes contempt of court, a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both the imprisonment and the fine, except as specified. This bill would provide that a willful and knowing violation of a protective order or stay-away court order issued relating to a victim or witness in a criminal proceeding, including a proceeding when the conditions of probation are determined, involving domestic violence or elder or dependent adult abuse, or issued upon the conviction of a defendant for a sexual offense involving a minor, or issued under other specified conditions, constitutes contempt of court, a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both the imprisonment and the fine, except as specified. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 136.2 of the Penal Code proposed by AB 176, that would become operative on the date AB 176 becomes operative only if AB 176 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2014, and this bill is chaptered last. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.