A no-contact order in Rhode Island is a court order prohibiting the defendant in a domestic violence case from contacting the alleged victim in any way, directly or through third parties. The order is typically issued automatically at arraignment in a domestic assault case and remains in effect throughout the case. No-contact orders cover phone calls, text messages, social media, in-person contact, and contact through friends or family. They often require the defendant to leave the shared home, even if the defendant is the lease holder or owner. Violation of a no-contact order is a separate criminal offense that can result in immediate arrest and additional charges.
