Do protective orders really help these defenseless mothers?
Not completely. IMO, all protections are inadequate, if a violent really wants to cause harm. However, that being said, I believe they can help in some ways.
For example, if that had taken a less forceful route and first knocked on the door while the woman's father was home or while the woman was awake, the police could have been called, informed that an active PFA was in place, and immediately responded to apprehend the . I'm unfamiliar with OH law, but in PA, he could then receive up to 6 months incarceration for violating the PFA order. The same can be done for each and every violation, no matter how minor (i.e., a FB post discussing the person protected by the PFA, asking a friend to text or FB message the person protected by the PFA, etc.)
Additionally, IMO, having an active protection order can help initiate a more rapid response from law enforcement, as it differentiates the situation from the common harassment call, in which law enforcement's first course of action is often to make contact with the bothersome person and simply direct that they cease communication.
Again, all JMO.
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