In the aftermath of domestic instances, the court may issue what’s known as a DANCO, which stands for Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. These no contact orders require that the named individual refrain from any contact or communication with the named party, otherwise they will be in violation of the order and subject to additional punishment. But what happens if you violate a no contact order in Minnesota? We take a closer look at the possible punishments for a DANCO violation in today’s blog.
DANCO Violations
No contact orders are put in placed by a presiding Minnesota District Court, meaning that they can be ordered even if a victim does not want one put in place. A person can certainly petition for a DANCO, but they will be issued by a district court, so ultimately the decision to enact a no contact order is the decision of the courts.
These no contact orders may be very specific or rather broad in nature and application. Because there are so many different ways to contact or communicate with one another these days, the courts want to ensure that all forms of communication are off limit. In the order, the courts may abolish any of these forms of communication:
- Face to face contact
- Telephone calls
- Social media messaging
- Communication through a third party
- Appearing at a location where the named party lives, works or can be expected
If you violate the stipulations in your no contact order, you can face severe penalties. Here’s a look at some potential penalties for violating a Minnesota no contact order:
First Violation – A first violation of a Minnesota DANCO with no prior enhancing convictions within the last 10 years is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000.
Second Violation – A second violation with one prior enhancing conviction in the last 10 years is considered a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and fines up to $3,000.
Subsequent Violation – Third and subsequent violations with at least two prior enhancing convictions would be considered a felony-level offense, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Finally, it’s worthwhile to note that “enhancing convictions” do not necessarily mean DANCO violations. While a DANCO violation would be considered an enhancing conviction, so too would crimes like an assault, domestic violence, strangulation, etc.
As you can see, problems can compound in a hurry if you are facing a domestic criminal charge and then end up violating your no contact order. For assistance with any domestic related criminal issue, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
