Article 48 Spanish Criminal Code: restraining orders

Article 48 of the Spanish Criminal Code defines the three prohibitions that make up Spanish restraining orders: the ban on residing in or visiting certain places, the ban on approaching the victim and the ban on communicating with her. They are the core ancillary penalties in domestic and gender violence cases.

Wording of Article 48 of the Spanish Criminal Code

1. The deprivation of the right to reside in or visit certain places prevents the convicted person from residing in or visiting the place where the offence was committed, or the place of residence of the victim or her family, if different. Where an intellectual disability or a disability arising from a mental disorder has been declared, the specific case shall be examined in order to decide with regard to the legal interests to be protected and the best interests of the person with a disability, who shall, where appropriate, have the accompaniment and support needed to comply with the measure.

2. The prohibition on approaching the victim, or those of her relatives or other persons determined by the judge or court, prevents the convicted person from coming near them, wherever they may be, as well as from approaching their home, workplace and any other place they habitually visit, and, with regard to the children, suspends the visiting, communication and staying arrangements recognised, where applicable, in a civil judgment, until full service of this penalty.

3. The prohibition on communicating with the victim, or with those of her relatives or other persons determined by the judge or court, prevents the convicted person from establishing with them, by any means of communication or by any computer or telematic means, written, verbal or visual contact.

4. The judge or court may order that compliance with these measures be monitored through such electronic means as allow it.

Working translation prepared by Société Juridique from the consolidated Spanish text published by the Official State Gazette. It has no official status: the only authoritative version is the Spanish original, available at the Official State Gazette and reproduced verbatim in our Spanish-language entry for this provision. Source: Organic Law 10/1995 of 23 November, the Spanish Criminal Code.

Effect. Bans on residence, approach and communication whose duration is set by Article 57. The approach ban suspends civil visiting arrangements, and compliance may be monitored electronically.

Content of the prohibitions

The ban on residing in or visiting the place of the offence or the residence of the victim or her family, with a specific assessment where disability is involved.
The ban on approaching the victim, relatives or other persons designated by the court, wherever they are, including home and workplace.
The suspension of visiting, communication and staying arrangements with the children while the approach ban lasts.
The ban on communication by any means, including electronic, whether written, verbal or visual.
The possibility of electronic monitoring.

Defence issues

Pinning down the spatial scope. Distance and places must be specified in the ruling. A generic prohibition, or a distance disproportionate to the geography of the town, can be challenged by clarification or on appeal.

Warning about the victim’s consent. Resuming cohabitation with the victim’s consent does not lift the penalty and exposes the convicted person to breach proceedings under Article 468. Advising on this and seeking the proper channel prevents a new offence.

Checking the joint duration. Imposed alongside prison, the ban must exceed the custodial term by one to ten years under Article 57 and run simultaneously. Calculation errors in sentence liquidation are frequent and reviewable.

Weighing the children’s interest. Suspending visiting arrangements requires reasoning where it collides with current civil rulings; coordination between both jurisdictions gives the defence room.

Are you under investigation or facing charges in Spain? Société Juridique acts for foreign nationals throughout Spain, with offices in Alicante and Madrid and a 24-hour custody line. +34 669 30 21 13 or enquire online.

This entry is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice. The application of any provision depends on the circumstances of the individual case and requires examination of the case file by a qualified lawyer.

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