Violation of a protective order in a family violence or similar case is punishable as what?

• A. Class A Misdemeanor
• B. State Jail Felony
• C. 3rd Degree Felony
• D. Felony 2

Answer: (B)

The situation tests how protective-order violations are punished when they occur in a family violence context. Violating a protective order is treated as a criminal offense, and in this context the statute assigns it a state jail felony level. That means the offender faces 180 days to 2 years in state jail, with the possibility of a substantial fine. This reflects the seriousness of flouting protections meant to keep a victim safe and the law’s intent to deter such violations.

A Class A misdemeanor would be a lesser category typically used for many non-violent violations, but the protective-order statute elevates this offense beyond a simple misdemeanor in this context. Higher felony levels like a 3rd Degree Felony or a Felony 2 would be reserved for more serious or repeated offenses or specific aggravating factors; the standard violation in a family-violence protective-order case is punished as a state jail felony.