New technology: Those who have filed restraining orders can now be notified when they are served

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Starting Tuesday, July 15th, Milwaukee County has begun providing petitioners who have obtained temporary restraining orders (TRO), often in domestic violence related situations, the opportunity to receive phone and/or email notifications when their TRO has been served by law enforcement.

By taking advantage of the recent completion and statewide activation of the WIVINE automated victim notification service now available in Wisconsin’s 72 county jails, the addition of the protective order notification service is another valuable investment in personal and public safety.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 1.3 million individuals are victimized by domestic violence annually and an estimated 900,000 protective orders are issued each year. Of the countless petitioners who have been re-victimized or killed by their abusers, many did not know whether their orders had been served.

The time immediately after a protective order (temporary restraining order or injunction) is served can be particularly dangerous for the petitioner. The respondent may react violently after being served, putting the petitioner at serious risk.

Giving the petitioner early notification that their order has been served will encourage them to inform law enforcement and seek assistance immediately if the respondent violates the restraining order.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke believes that knowing that the order has been served on a timely basis will also allow the petitioner to better protect themselves and implement their personal “safety plan.”

Petitioners throughout Milwaukee County who are interested in receiving an automated phone and/or email notification regarding the service of their protective order are encouraged to call 1-855-WI VPO 4U (1-855-948-7648) or log on to www.vinelink.com, click on the Wisconsin map, then click “WI-VINE County Jails/VPO VINE Protective Order” and then on the “Protective Order” tab on the upper left side of the screen.

To complete the voluntary registration process the petitioner will need the 12 digit CCAP case number, the county that issued their TRO and the respondent's first and last name.

In addition, live operator assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week though the Department of Corrections for callers who have questions or require additional help.

Through the amazing commitment of Ms. Pam Brandon, WI-VINE Program Manager, Ms. Jo Winston, Director of the Office of Victim Services at DOC, and Ms. Carmen Pitre, Executive Director for Sojourner Family Peace Center, Milwaukee County is now one of 71 counties in Wisconsin providing the VPO service. The VPO service was originally funded through a $500,000 enhancement grant provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Wisconsin is proud to join eight other states across the country that are offering domestic violence victims an additional safety net against potentially dangerous individuals in their communities through the VINE Protective Order service.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke issued the following statement: "I have been doing this job for over 36 years, and a protective order isn’t just a piece of paper. It provides the petitioner with peace of mind and some small degree of certainty that the police are invested and care about their situation, and the belief that finally, someone is listening and will take immediate action if the abuse continues. But that critical period, right after a protective order is served on the abuser, provides a dangerous window for that victim. They need to know that the paper has been served, and to take additional steps to implement their personal safety plan. I am proud to partner with the DOC to implement the VINE Protective Order service here in Milwaukee County. Now, through push notifications to cell phones, emails, and through online web access we’ll deliver an added level of security by giving petitioners access to timely and accurate notification when their temporary restraining order has been served on the respondent.”