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Protection

Domestic Violence Protective Orders

There are three types of domestic violence protective orders: Emergency, Preliminary, and Permanent Protective Orders. An Emergency Protective Order (up to 72 hours) can be issued by a magistrate. (If a warrant is issued for assault and battery against a family or household member and the magistrate finds there is probable danger of further acts of family abuse by the defendant, the magistrate is directed to issue an emergency protective order.

Preliminary (up to two weeks) and Permanent (up to two years) Protective Orders must be issued by a judge. You must contact an Intake Officer in person to obtain a domestic violence protective order. The Intake Officer is located on the second floor of the District Courts Building, 111 Ennis Street, Bowling Green. The Intake Officer can assist you in filling out a petition form and arranging for you to appear before a judge. (Only the judge may issue the order of protection.) It is best to go to the Intake Office when it opens at 8:30 am. A victim advocate can assist you in this process. Please call us at (804) 633-8037.

You must have an address of the person you are filing against. Please note: it doesn't have to be a home address it may be a work location. If you have any questions, you can contact Caroline Victim/Witness at (804) 633-8037 or the Intake Office at (804) 633-9340. If you have an emergency, dial 911.

It is a felony for any person who is the subject of a protective order to purchase or transport any firearm while the protective order is in effect.

Protective Order brochure created by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (Adobe pdf)

Stalking/Serious Bodily Injury Protective Orders

There are three types of Stalking/ Serious Injury Protective orders; Emergency, Preliminary , and Permanent Protective Orders. An Emergency Protective Order (up to 72 hours) can be issued by a magistrate. For a Stalking Protective Order there must be a stalking warrant.

Preliminary (up to two weeks) and Permanent (up to two years) Protective Orders must be issued by a judge. You must contact an Intake Officer in person to obtain a stalking/serious Injury Protective order against a juvenile. The Intake Officer is located on the second floor of the District Courts Building, 111 Ennis Street, Bowling Green. The Intake Officer can assist you in filling out a petition form and arranging for you to appear before a judge. (Only the judge may issue the order of protection.) It is best to go to the Intake Office when it opens at 8:30 am. If the protective order is against an adult you will need to speak with the clerk of the General District Court, they can be reached at (804) 633-5720. General District Court is located on the first floor of the District Courts Building, 111 Ennis Street, Bowling Green. A victim advocate can assist you in this process. Please call us at (804) 633-8037.

It is a felony for any person who is the subject of a protective order to purchase or transport any firearm while the protective order is in effect.

Stalking/Serious Bodily Injury Protective Order brochure created by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.(Adobe pdf **)

Safety Planning

In addition to the safety suggestions listed on the below website, please: Vary your schedule by 10-30 minutes so that you are not as accessible to the perpetrator; Make a copy of your car and house keys as you will never know when you need them; Keep your cell phone with you and charged at all times; And contact the police when and if there is a violation of any court orders or any problems that you may be experiencing.

National Center for Victims of Crime safety planning guidelines

Information for Sexual Assault Victims

Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault
National Center for Victims of Crime information for victims of sexual assault
Department of Criminal Justice Services information for victims of sexual assault

Information for Domestic Violence Victims

Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence
National Center for Victims of Crime information for victims of domestic violence
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services information for victims of domestic violence

Information for Stalking Victims

Stalking is a crime of intimidation. Generally, stalking is defined as the willful or intentional commission of a series of acts which reasonably cause another person to fear death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury. Stalking is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A third or subsequent conviction of stalking within 5 years is a Class 6 felony.

If a warrant is issued for stalking, the victim of a stalker can seek the issuance of an Emergency Protective Order from a police officer or magistrate prohibiting the stalker from having any contact with the victim or the victim's family or household members as well as setting such other conditions as the magistrate deems necessary to prevent continued stalking or injury to the victim and/or property.

If the subject of a protective order violates the terms of the order he/she is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and can be arrested immediately. If a person is free on bond from an arrest and he/she violates the terms of a protective order or commits a new offense, grounds would also exist to revoke the bond previously posted.

Emergency Protective Orders may be applied for by the victim or by a law enforcement officer on behalf of the victim. EPOs are good for 72 hours, however, they can be extended for up to two weeks (Preliminary Protective Orders) and ultimately up to two years (Permanent Protective Orders). Please contact the Victim/Witness Program at (804) 633-8037 to have an advocate assist you in this process.

It is a felony for any person who is the subject of a protective order to purchase or transport any firearm while the protective order is in effect.

In addition to the safety suggestions listed on the below website, please: Vary your schedule by 10-30 minutes so that you are not as accessible to the perpetrator; Make a copy of your car and house keys- you will never know when you need them; Keep your cell phone with you and charged at all times; And contact the police when and if there is a violation of any court orders or any problems that you may be experiencing.

National Center for Victims of Crime information for victims of stalking

Information for Homicide Survivors

National Center for Victims of Crime information for homicide survivors

General Information for Witnesses

DRESS CODE IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF CAROLINE

It is necessary to establish this Court's policy regarding appropriate dress or attire in Court. Appropriate attire (clothing) is required to enter the courtroom. Persons wearing clothing such as, but not limited to, shorts, clothing with offensive language, revealing clothing or tank tops will not be permitted in the Courtroom.

Parties and essential witnesses will be required to go home and change clothes, if practical and if it does not hinder the timely and efficient administration of justice. If the return home to change clothes is not practical, the individual will be required to wear jail or detention center clothing.

Individuals not essential to the case will not be permitted in the courtroom in inappropriate attire.

Courtroom deputies shall deny entry into the courtroom by persons inappropriately dressed.

Only in exceptional circumstances, will a case be continued because of inappropriate attire.

Further, there shall be no cell phones, cameras, audible beepers, recording devices, or any type of chewing gum or candy allowed in the courtroom.

If the violation is flagrant and egregious enough or continuous, the individual violator may be held in contempt of Court, which may result in a jail sentence and/or fine. 18.12-456 of the Code of Virginia.

JUVENILES IN CAROLINE JDR COURT

There are no daycare facilities available in the Caroline Courts Building for Children. The only persons under 18 years of age who are permitted in the Courtroom are defendants in a traffic or delinquency case or juveniles who are witnesses in a traffic, delinquency, criminal case, or civil case when they are testifying.