Under enhanced stalking penalties, an injunction or restraining order in effect results in what maximum imprisonment?

Under enhanced stalking penalties, an injunction or restraining order in effect results in what maximum imprisonment?

• A. 5 years
• B. 15 years
• C. 10 years
• D. 20 years

Answer: (C)

Enhanced stalking penalties apply because a protective order in effect shows the risk to the victim is heightened. When an injunction or restraining order is active at the time of the offense, the law sets a higher, but specific, maximum sentence to reflect that added danger. In this scenario, the maximum imprisonment is ten years. This ten-year cap ties the punishment to the protective status of the order, signaling that violating such orders while stalking carries a tougher penalty than without the order. Other listed numbers don’t fit this particular enhancement, which is defined to be ten years when an injunction or restraining order is in effect.

Enhanced stalking penalties apply because a protective order in effect shows the risk to the victim is heightened. When an injunction or restraining order is active at the time of the offense, the law sets a higher, but specific, maximum sentence to reflect that added danger. In this scenario, the maximum imprisonment is ten years. This ten-year cap ties the punishment to the protective status of the order, signaling that violating such orders while stalking carries a tougher penalty than without the order. Other listed numbers don’t fit this particular enhancement, which is defined to be ten years when an injunction or restraining order is in effect.