City Faces Surge in Restraining Orders Outpacing Population Growth

Maricopa residents are reporting a significant increase in restraining orders this year.

An annual report presented to the city council by Presiding Judge Stephen F. McCarville revealed the troubling trend.

“We have, I believe, 120 cases already this year. We’re averaging, unfortunately, about six per week,” he stated during a recent meeting. “If this trend continues, we will most likely end up somewhere between 280 and 300 cases for this year.”

Last year, the court recorded 124 orders for protection and 82 for injunctions against harassment, contrasting with 106 and 29 filings in the previous year.

This represents a 53% rise in restraining order filings over just one year, while the local population grew by only 7%.

An order of protection is a civil court mandate that prevents a specific individual from approaching a person’s home, workplace, or other significant locations. Such orders typically involve parties who are currently or were previously married, lived together, or share a family relationship.

In contrast, an injunction against harassment is used for coworker disputes or relationships where the parties did not live together.

Collectively, these are referred to as restraining orders.

McCarville expressed uncertainty regarding the cause of the increase, admitting, “I don’t know.”

He noted that the growth of filings is exceeding the overall population growth. From 2022 to 2023, the population is expected to rise by 16%. If the trend persists, filings could rise by 35 to 40%, leaving officials puzzled.

For those experiencing domestic violence, resources are available in Maricopa.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)