I made this video because in Cleveland, Ohio, I learned the hard way that telling someone to leave you alone can turn into a whole court process. When a partner is threatening you, stalking you, harassing you, or making you fear for your safety, every step matters. And yet people are expected to navigate confusing legal jargon, different types of protection orders, and rules that can leave you feeling overwhelmed when you are already in survival mode.

What really pushed me to speak up is that I was in a situation where I had to drop my civil protection order to pick up a criminal protection order, and that did not happen for four months. I was left with no protection for an entire four months and no idea that was the case because the legal system failed to provide me with ALL of the information. That should never happen to anybody. Survivors should not have to guess when an order takes effect, what type of order applies, what evidence they need, or whether changing from one process to another could leave them unprotected.

I am calling on Cuyahoga County Courts to provide clear, written protection order instructions to every petitioner, in plain language, before and during filing. That guidance should explain the different types of protection orders, what evidence must be printed, when audio or video must be brought on a flash drive, when an order takes effect, and what risks may come with dropping one order while another is pending. People should also be clearly told to raise any immediate emergency concerns right away so no one falls through the cracks because they did not know the right words to say.

Our request reforms:

-Develop a clear, step-by-step public guide explaining how to seek a protective order.
-Develop a list of acceptable ways to bring in and provide evidence.
-Provide plain-language instructions and standardized checklists for required forms and documentation.
-Make guidance available online and in accessible, printable formats and commonly spoken languages.
-Clearly explain filing locations, applicable fees or fee-waiver options, deadlines, hearing procedures, and service requirements.
-Establish or expand access to trained court navigators, victim advocates, and legal assistance.
-Provide applicants with realistic explanations of what to expect before, during, and after a hearing.
-Explain how to seek emergency protection when available under applicable law and where to obtain immediate assistance.
-Make information about enforcing an order, reporting alleged violations, requesting modifications, and seeking further legal help readily available.
-Regularly review public-facing guidance with input from domestic violence survivors, advocates, attorneys, and court personnel.

If you have ever been scared, confused, or forced to figure this out while just trying to stay safe, please sign. We should not need a legal decoder ring to ask for protection. Sign this petition to demand a court process that protects people instead of leaving them in the dark.

Protective orders can be an important part of a survivor’s safety plan, but the process of seeking protection should not add unnecessary confusion to an already difficult situation.

Survivors deserve information that is accurate, understandable, trauma-informed, and easy to find. They deserve to know their options without having to rely solely on word of mouth or navigate complicated legal language on their own.

We recognize that protective orders cannot guarantee safety in every circumstance. Clear guidance must therefore be accompanied by realistic safety planning, access to support services, and accurate explanations of the protections and limitations of the law.