Crossing Borders: Regional Meetings on Implementing Full Faith and Credit, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 206843
• Date Published: February 2004
• Length: 374 pages
• Grant Number(s): 98-WE-VX-K011 (S-02)
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts; National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)
• Sale Source: National Ctr for State Courts; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 9, 2004.

Annotation

This report presents the history, meeting design, key themes, and meeting outcomes of a series of regional meetings held on implementing the full faith and credit of domestic violence orders of protection.

Abstract

One of the most significant contributions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), enacted in 1994 and modified in 2000, are the provisions that require full faith and credit for protection orders across State and tribal lines; however compliance with these provisions has been hampered by significant differences in State laws governing protection orders, variation in the format and content of the orders, and the lack of extensive data systems to verify orders that originated in another State or tribal court. In order to address this situation, six regional meetings were held around the country from 1999 to 2002. They involved multidisciplinary teams that represented all 50 States, the territories, the District of Columbia, and several tribal nations. The objectives of these meetings were to increase understanding of the requirements of the full faith and credit provision of the VAWA; to identify and work to reduce barriers to enforcing protection orders within and across State and tribal jurisdictions; to share technological and other innovative approaches to enforcement and coordination among agencies; to address issues specific to individual regions; and to encourage continued collaboration following the meetings. All the content presented at the meetings was designed to prepare the State and tribal teams to develop strategic action plans tailored to the needs and existing conditions of various geographic areas. At the level of regional strategies, five key themes emerged: regional communication, coordination, and resource sharing; additional training at all levels; consistent information supplied on State and tribal orders; access to and consistency of technological approaches to full faith and credit implementation; and public awareness. The appendixes provide extensive documentation and resource materials, including several links to Web sites for further technical assistance.