In order to improve the sharing of protection order information, the full text of protection orders will need to be entered into an accessible system and processes for reporting protection orders will need to change. The project will include an analysis of each option. A preliminary analysis will determine the impact on stakeholders, particularly court clerks, in terms of staffing. Currently, a court sends a protection order to the sheriff to serve. If a protection order exists, the agency contacts the originating sheriff's office, and a copy of the protection order is sent by fax.
Delays also exist in contacting the agency serving the order and obtaining the copy of the order.
By state law, BCI maintains the list of protection orders. The information is currently stored in the system, but BCI plans to implement a new system specifically for protection orders. A required interface to the FBI will be built as part of this project. One option is to continue the current process but have the sheriffs' offices enter the full text of the order and the fields required for FBI reporting. This option does not ensure that all protection orders are reported or eliminate delays, but it does give law enforcement access to more information.