§10462a Grants to State and Tribal Courts to Implement Protection Order Pilot Programs

Summary

The Attorney General can give up to 10 grants, each no more than $1,500,000, to State or Tribal courts that join with a team of partners to create and run programs for serving protection orders by electronic means. The court’s team should, as much as possible, include partners such as law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers and culturally specific service providers, legal aid groups, the state or tribal bar and court clerk groups, criminal defense attorneys, at least 2 technology experts, at least 2 judges with domestic violence and protective-order experience, and a judge who handles criminal cases. Grant money must be used with those partners to build and use a lawful electronic service program that modernizes service, speeds enforcement, and improves victim safety; to make best practices; to ensure due process and legal compliance; and to add technology that verifies and tracks receipt of orders. The program must start within 2 years of getting the grant and run for at least 3 years. The Attorney General should spread grants across different kinds of courts (large and small populations, rural and urban, integrated or standalone case systems, Tribal courts, and courts serving underserved cultural groups). Courts must apply with a description of current service methods, up to 3 years of service and enforcement data, a list of partners, and other required info. No duplicate application to a related grant program is needed. Grantees must send a plan report within 2 years of the grant and two follow-up reports (one year after starting the program and another two years later) covering cost, results, technology, legal issues, challenges, and recommendations for broader use. No new regulations are required, and $10,000,000 is authorized for fiscal years 2023–2027.