Protection Order Best Practices

• In Event: Roundtable: Policies, Practices, and Prevention

Abstract

A review of protection order filings over a 6 year period combined with interviews with various key stakeholders (DV advocates, police, lawyers, judges, legislators, victims) provides important perspectives on how the system works; as well as potential policy changes that could make victims safer. Proposals for more evidenced-based practice in the protection order process (specifically in awarding of both temporary and permanent orders) may lead the way to safer families as well as a reduction in the rampant cynicism about the process often apparent within both law enforcement and the judiciary.

Authors

• Lisa Leduc, University of Maine at Presque Isle

• Idella Pearl Thompson, University of Maine at Presque Isle