When we first started researching the possible addition of protective order notifications to Virginia VINE—Victim Information and Notification Everyday—we began by asking a question: How do victims find out when a protective order has been served? The answer? Call your local law enforcement agency and ask. While that’s certainly an option, it’s not especially effective and it leaves the victim with a lot of uncertainty. How long will it take? How often should I call? Imagine worrying about what the person’s reaction will be when served and not having any sense of when that might happen.
