§10462a Grants to State and Tribal courts to implement protection order pilot programs

Summary

Gives money to state and Tribal courts so they can build pilot programs that send protection orders by electronic means. To get a grant, a court must work with a team that includes, for example, law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service groups or domestic violence coalitions, providers of culturally specific services, legal aid or nonprofit legal programs, the state bar, court clerks, defense lawyers, at least 2 people who know court case management technology, at least 2 judges experienced in domestic violence and protective orders, and a judge who handles criminal cases. The Attorney General can make up to 10 grants. Each grant can be up to $1,500,000. Grant money must be used to create and run a program that legally serves protection orders by electronic methods, improves victim safety, speeds enforcement, creates best practices, follows due process and other laws, and adds any needed technology (like ways to verify delivery). The court must start the program within 2 years of getting the grant and run it for at least 3 years. The Attorney General should pick courts from different kinds of areas (for example, courts serving 1,000,000+ people, very low- or high-density states with low service rates, courts with statewide or standalone case systems, Tribal courts, and courts serving specific underserved populations). Courts must apply with a description of current service methods, 3 years of relevant statistics, a list of partners, and other requested info, and must send reports on plans, results, costs, technology, legal issues, and recommendations. No new federal regulations are required. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for fiscal years 2023–2027.