03/18/2024, Law Enforcement Strategies for Serving Civil Protection Orders with John Guard and Michael Rizzo of LETTAC

Strengthening civil protection order (CPO) processes is a key implementation plan objective for many states and territories. STOP funding to support implementation of innovative law enforcement strategies for serving CPOs can be an effective way to increase survivor safety and respondent accountability. Despite the inherent danger posed by service of orders, and the opportunity presented to explain to respondents the orders’ terms and the consequences of non-compliance, all too often serving agencies fail to prioritize safe and effective service of process. This also contributes to the perennial challenge of temporary orders that never become permanent because respondents manage to evade service.

This STOP TA Clinic will feature John Guard, law enforcement officer, and Michael Rizzo, Senior Research Associate, from the Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC). Michael and John will speak about innovative approaches to service of protection orders, including how STOP funding can be used to support dedicated service units that efficiently serve CPOs and strategies to equip serving officers with information about risk factors and other helpful intel on respondents to promote safe and effective service. In addition, participants will learn about how the service of process step can be used to address prohibited respondents’ unlawful access to firearms.