Hereabouts, in the United States of Shamerica, contempt orders enable jurists to indefinitely jail the subject until they agree to comply with whatever order of the court they are found in contempt of. I'm unaware of anyone that has been held captive more than a year in this way, but there's literally no limit I know of.
In the OP above, the court order was enforced the day the order was issued. I think you're probably right, that acting prior to such an order is the only way to avoid being held in contempt.
Thanks!
Damn. This along with Civil Asset Forfeiture really flies in the face of the whole land of the free stuff...