Courts in Montgomery County, Md. are launching a new program to safeguard domestic abuse victims.
The pilot project will allow victims to file to temporary protective orders without ever stepping foot in court, where they can be at risk of being attacked by their abusers. The victims will be able file from the Montgomery County Family Justice Center, and have judges hear their requests via a video link to the courthouse.
The county’s circuit and district courts are both participating in the pilot project, which, if successful, could be adopted across Maryland, said Chief Judge Ben Clyburn of the District Court of Maryland.
Clyburn said the project was collaborative effort between the Family Justice Center, police and local court officials. He said it was patterned partially on a model used in San Diego, where courts have also adopted video conferencing to protect abuse victims.
According to Clyburn, there have been several instances where women were killed by their abusers at or near courthouses in Maryland.
“The period of time where the victim is trying to escape, to get to the courts for that initial protection, is the most dangerous, because that’s the time the abuser knows they’re about to lose control,” Clyburn said. “It’s very important to get them in a location where they can get the whole host of services they need.”
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