Restraining orders are designed to protect individuals from the constant mental or physical harassment of others. Unfortunately, however, they don’t always work like they’re supposed to.

A recent central Iowa case serves to illustrate that restraining orders are only effective if everyone acts like they’re ‘ordered to.’ In this case, a woman, after countless vicious beatings, had finally obtained a restraining order against her violence-prone boyfriend. But this ‘judicial mandate’ didn’t prevent him from breaking into her home, tying her to a chair (which he subsequently kicked over), poking her with a knife, and putting a roll of duct tape in her hair.

The problem is, a piece of paper stating “stay away” isn’t going to deter anyone who has brutal motives. Can society really expect a thin slice of dead wood to keep the peace? Where are the police? Why aren’t they enforcing these orders? Just why should anyone have to live in fear of losing their life everyday?

Something more effective than a restraining order is needed in preventing assaults between individuals with a past history of violent confrontation. Not only is the protection of a restraining order needed and asked for, but it’s promised. All too often, they don’t serve their purposes though. While an alternative solution may not appear obvious at present, trying to find one is better than fooling ourselves that the system works as it is. Horrified victims can attest otherwise.