Restraining orders

A friend of a friend is in an abusive relationship. Today she got a restraining order.It's not as much of a surprise that it's a she who is getting the order since the size and strength difference is a real thing. This is not saying that men are not in a similarly abusive relationships.There's a myth to restraining orders though.The notion that a court order will restrain anyone is a myth.All the order does to prevent is stop certain transactions, like getting an apartment for instance.The importance of this is that it gives an additional law to break. Once you break a law you have the opportunity to get charged for that offense.Does it prevent violence?No.But it does give a bit of recourse.It does not, however, give you the certainty of relegating your own defense to others.