Protection orders are just one of the mechanisms that the justice system put into place to protect victims from retaliation or harassment from their offenders, often seen in domestic violence cases. In instances where the victim decides to move to a new location that is no longer under the protection order’s issuing jurisdiction, safeguards are available to facilitate service and enforcement of orders through the Full Faith and Credit Condition of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Joining the Justice Clearinghouse to digest this provision is Monica Player, the Attorney Advisor for the National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (NCPOFFC). Monica provides training and technical assistance on domestic violence-related matters like the issuance and enforcement of protection orders, full faith and credit, and firearm laws.

Monica’s discussion covered:

• The National Center on Protection Orders and Full Faith & Credit (NCPOFFC) and its services.
• What the VAWA Full Faith and Credit Condition is, it’s objective and requirements.
• The basics of protection orders – its purpose and how they’re issued.
• The rules on registration, notification, and enforcement of protection orders outside the jurisdiction of the issuing state.
• Full faith and credit enabling legislations implemented across the states that provide the standards to the enforceability of foreign protection orders.
• Guidelines to take into account and protocols to follow in terms of assessment, verification, and service of protection orders as well as firearm prohibitions and arrests related to violation of protection orders.
• Probing the parties for details to reveal other potential crimes committed if no order violation is found.
• The different types of protection orders that criminal justice professionals may encounter and their identifying characteristics.
• Other provisions, types of protection orders, and available relief to consider which impacts effective procedures surrounding protection orders.
• Prohibition of fees for issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
• Resources to better understand and deep dive into the topic.
• Multiple case studies were presented to better understand:
  • What protection orders are, its validity, and entitlement to full faith and credit.
  • Enforcement of protection orders in various conditions such as ex-parte orders, mutual protection, and tribal jurisdictions.

Points that were raised during the Q&A were about:

• Terminologies used for protection orders.
• Refusing service of a protection order.
• The validity/length of time that a protection order is in effect.
• Documenting service of foreign protection orders.

Resources and Handouts

• NCPOFFC Protection Order and Firearm Publications
• NCPOFFC VAWA “No Fee Toolkit
• NCPOFFC Statute and Definition
• Documents A-B-C Samples

Audience Comments

• “Every topic of this Protection Order webinar was highly educative, it is fantastic. I gained so much knowledge from it.” — Rev. Michael F.
• “I like how the handouts were interactive- by asking questions relating to the documents that were handed out and not just for reference later.” — Melissa
• “Clarified my knowledge on Full Faith and Credit! Thank you.” — Kelly
• “The distinction of different orders and how they transfer fluidly from where they are issued to other jurisdictions was helpful.” — Carol
• “Learning and getting a better understanding about Orders. I’ve only been an advocate for a few months and TRO/CHO and any Orders have been confusing for me.” — Denise