Domestic Violence Protective Orders

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1 T O P I C S Domestic Violence Protective Orders P A G E 1 Domestic Violence Protective Orders M A Y Secure It or Lose It NOVA PD Welcomes New Officers Recent NOVA Police Outreach Upcoming NOVA PD Training and Events S E L E C T E D P O L I C E S E R V I C E S Escort to vehicles Motorist Assists Crime Prevention and Response Training Security Assessments Child Safety Seat Installation and Assessment What is a Protective Order (PO)? A PO is a legal order issued by a magistrate or the judge to protect one person from physical abuse or threatening behavior by another. It is issued in cases of domestic violence and stalking to protect the abused person and his/her family or household members. There are three types of family abuse POs: Emergency Protective Order Preliminary Protective Order Final Protective Order Emergency Protective Order (EPO) An EPO may: (1) legally order the abuser to stop abusing or threatening behavior; (2) prohibit the abuser from contacting you at home, at work, or by phone; (3) order the abusive person removed from the home you share; (4) provide other relief necessary for your protection. You must obtain an EPO as soon as possible after you have been assaulted or threatened. Ask a law enforcement officer (police or sheriff) or a magistrate for an EPO. You can also request an EPO in person at the Office of the Magistrate or the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the locality in which the abuse occurred. An EPO lasts for 72 hours or until the next scheduled court day, whichever is later. If you want your protection to continue, you must go to the Intake Office of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and petition for a Preliminary Protective Order before the EPO expires. Preliminary Protective Order (PPO) In addition to the four EPO protections listed above, a PPO may: (1) grant exclusive possession, but not title, of the home and/or jointly owned car to you; (2) grant temporary custody and visitation of the children; and/or (3) provide other relief necessary for your protection. You must obtain a PPO within a short time after you have been assaulted or threatened. You do not need an EPO to get a PPO. The abuser does not have to be at the hearing. To ask (petition) for a PPO, go to the Intake Office for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the locality in which the abuse occurred. The PPO lasts for up to 15 days. At the PPO hearing, a final Protective Order hearing date is set. Protective Order (PO) In addition to EPO and PPO protections listed above, a final PO, which may last up to two years, may: (1) require the abuser to pay for you and the children to live in another house; (2) grant exclusive possession, but not title, of the home and/or jointly owned car to you; (3) require the abuser to go to treatment or counseling; and/or (4) provide other relief necessary for your protection. Police Dispatch (703)

2 P A G E 2 Domestic Violence Protective Orders You must attend the final PO hearing, which is scheduled at the time of your PPO hearing. The judge will subpoena the abuser. Both you and the abuser will be asked to describe what happened. Do I need legal representation to obtain a Protective Order? No. You do not need an attorney to file for a PO. However, there are often free legal services available for low-income victims who would like to obtain a protective order. Many area domestic violence service agencies have free attorneys and victim advocates available for victims who would like a Protective Order. Do I have to press charges to get a Protective Order? No. A protective order is a civil order; it is not the same as pressing criminal charges. You may press criminal charges against the abuser, in addition to petitioning for a family abuse PO, but you do not have to press charges in order to get one. If the abuser violates a PO, he or she can be sent to jail. Is a Protective Order from another state valid in Virginia? If I go to another state, will my Virginia Protective Order be valid there? The answer to both questions is yes. Federal law requires states to enforce POs from other sates.. How to make sure Protective Orders work for you: Report PO violations to law enforcement immediately. Carry a copy of the protective order with you at all times and show it to law enforcement if it is violated. Avoid deliberate contact with the abuser. For additional information: Contact NOVA Police at (24/7/365) Call the toll free Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at Visit Contact NOVA Sexual Assault Services at (24 hour phone line)/nova.sas@nvcc.edu Secure It or Lose It NOVA Police Department are distributing tent cards around campus, reminding everyone to secure their personal belongings. You will see these cards in student lounges, libraries and other NOVA spaces where people congregate. If you would like some of these cards for your office or workspace, contact NOVA Police Community Outreach Officer, Tony Ong, tong@nvcc.edu.

3 P A G E 3 NOVA Police Welcomes New Officers Officer Florio (pictured left) graduated from Lynchburg College in 2007 with a B.A in Communications Studies with an emphasis on Electronic Media and Public Relations. He completed the Henrico County Basic Law Enforcement Academy in 2007 and served from as a police officer with Henrico County. He served with the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police from and joined the NOVA Police Department in October Officer Chavez began his career in 2011 as a Deputy Sheriff with the Loudoun County Sheriff s Office. He completed the combined Basic Deputy Sheriff and Law Enforcement School at Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in In February, 2013, Officer Chavez joined NOVA s Police Department. Officer Chavez, a native of Ithaca, NY, is a 2007 graduate of Ithaca High School. He holds an A.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Tompkins Cortland Community College and a B.A. degree in Criminology, with a minor in Political Science, from SUNY s Cortland State College. NOVA Police welcomes these new officers. Both officers are assigned to the Loudoun Campus. Recent NOVA Police Outreach NOVA Police attended NOVA s Information Night at Robinson Secondary School. More than 315 current Fairfax County Public School students and their parents attended. NOVA Police provided parents and students with an overview on campus safety and available safety resources at NOVA. Lt. Weinstein speaking with parents and students about campus safety

4 P A G E 4 AN Student Integrity and Conduct Office and NOVA PD Conduct SAFE Training The NOVA Police Department recently worked with the Annandale Campus Student Integrity and Conduct Office in hosting a women s self-defense class for students at the Annandale Campus. The training was used to educate and empower female students on how to protect themselves. The training reviewed definitions of key terms, criminal and legal implications, risk reduction strategies, and some avoidance tactics. Additional resources/handouts were provided. NOVA PD Speaks to ESL Students on Safety Behind the Wheel The NOVA Police spoke with ESL/F-1 students about staying safe behind the wheel. This training provided basic driving safety tips.

5 P A G E 5 Upcoming NOVA Police Safety Outreach Training and Events DETER AUTO THEFT FREE VIN Etching DATE: May 31, 2013 (will reschedule event if it rains) TIME: 10:00 AM 2:00 PM LOCATION: Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus, B-14 parking lot 8333 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA Virginians pay a high price for stolen vehicles. Thefts drive up the cost of automobile insurance and generate significant social costs associated with crime. There is a safe and economical deterrent to auto theft: VIN Etching. VIN Etched windows help the police detect and identify stolen vehicles. Bring your vehicle to get a FREE VIN Etching, chat with some of your local police officers, and learn about auto theft prevention. Upcoming Identity Theft Training The NOVA Police and PNC Bank will conduct an Identity Theft Awareness college-wide workshop. With identity theft on the rise, this workshop will help you protect your identity, your safety, and your financial well-being. (Details for the May / June sessions will be included in future communications.)