Enforcement of Protective Orders
(Regardless of Jurisdiction)

In 1994, Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) directing jurisdictions to give full faith and credit to valid orders of protection issued by other jurisdictions. 18 U.S.C. § 2265.

What does this mean for victims?
Abused persons who are granted orders of protection can now call upon law enforcement to protect them and to take all appropriate action against abusers nationwide.

What does this mean for abusers?
The abuser is bound by terms and conditions of the order of protection and may be arrested and charged with violating the order and committing other substantive crimes wherever the abuser violates a valid order.  It does not make any difference where the order was granted.  The abuser must be arrested for a violation of an order of protection if the law of jurisdiction where the violation occurred requires an arrest.

What does this mean for law enforcement?
If an order of protection is valid in the issuing jurisdiction, it must be enforced in every other jurisdiction.  Some jurisdictions grant orders:

• to victims who might not be eligible for orders in enforcing jurisdiction
• for periods of time longer than authorized in the enforcing jurisdiction
• containing directives against abusers that might not be available in the enforcing jurisdiction

A responding officer MUST ENFORCE the terms and conditions of the order as written.  Officers are not required to know the laws of the issuing jurisdiction in order to enforce orders of protection.  Officers in the enforcing jurisdiction must comply with all laws, policies, and procedures of their own jurisdiction concerning violation of orders of protection, such as mandatory arrest and victim notification, if applicable.

What about liability for failure to enforce orders of protection?
The mandate to give full faith and credit to valid orders of protection nationwide confronts law enforcement with new challenges, including the possibility of liability for failure to enforce orders of protection from other jurisdictions.  Many jurisdictions have laws that provide officers with statutory immunity from liability when an officer takes reasonable action to protect a victim in a domestic violence case.  In Maryland, a law enforcement officer who answers a call for help from a person who claims to be a victim of domestic violence is immune from civil liability for reasonable, good faith actions taken to help the victim. Md. Ct. and Jud. Pro. Code Ann. §5-610

Terms used in the Violence against Women Act.

Jurisdiction - For the purposes of brevity, the term "jurisdiction" will be used to refer to a state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United State, and to Indian tribes.

What is "Full Faith and Credit"?
Simply stated, full faith and credit requires that valid orders of protection must be enforced to protect victims of domestic violence wherever a violation of an order occurs, regardless of where the order was issued.

Why is Full Faith and Credit Important?
When victims of domestic violence leave, they and their children are at an increased risk of violence.  Abusers who cross jurisdictions in pursuit of victims may be engaged in stalking, which is significant risk indicator of life-threatening violence.

Who does What Under the "Full Faith and Credit for Orders of Protection" Concept?