AZ Court Help and Arizona courthouse accessibility information           Increase Font Size

A- A A+

FAQ - Domestic Violence and Harassment

In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.

Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.

What is a release order?

Release orders are issued by a sheriff’s office when an individual is arrested for an act of domestic violence and released from custody. These temporary orders are forwarded to the court within 24 hours, so they may be officially registered. They contain the restrictions the offender must follow as a condition of their release from custody.

Release orders are only issued in rural counties that do not have an emergency judge on call for when the courts are closed.

A law enforcement officer will tell the domestic violence victim where the release order registration and conditions may be verified. If an offender violates the release order, call 9-1-1 to have the release order enforced.

Resources:

Protective Order forms

Protective Order FAQ

Search