Tuesday, May 11, 2010

I'm curious if Maryland's "Protective Orders - Notification of Service" law, passed in 2009, also alerts the victim when her protective order is about to expire? It has been noted that many victims of domestic violence are often unaware that the time has passed, and are therefore unable to request an extension or new protective order in time.

North Carolina's Statewide Automated Victim Assistance and Notification program (SAVAN) does require such a notification by phone or email. No description of Maryland's HB1196 bill includes such a stipulation.

Either it has been poorly described, or this loophole in the law should be addressed at the county or state level, to ensure that victims have the opportunity to obtain a new order. SAVAN administrator Debbie Allen stated to WRAL 5 news in Raleigh that, in two-thirds of the 90% of domestic violence fatality cases where a protective order had been issued, the order had expired.

That statistic makes clear why such a notification is important.

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