Who is identified as the defendant in an order of protection situation?

In an order of protection situation, the defendant refers to the individual against whom the order is sought, typically due to alleged harmful behavior towards another individual. This person is often the suspect in the matter who is accused of threats, harassment, stalking, or other forms of abuse towards the individual seeking protection.

In this context, the victim is the person requesting the order for protection but is not referenced as the defendant; in legal terminology, they may be referred to as the plaintiff when filing for the order. The prosecutor is involved in criminal cases but does not directly pertain to civil matters like an order of protection. Understanding these distinctions within the legal framework is crucial when navigating cases involving protection orders.