Increase Victim Safety (No Contact Order) – Provides two ways to increase victim safety when a court finds there is probable cause to believe an alleged abuser either caused serious bodily injury to a victim of domestic abuse or used or displayed a deadly weapon. • Deletes the present requirement that a temporary order of protection be issued at the respondent’s initial appearance, even if another protection is already in place. • It amends the current bond conditions statute to require the court or magistrate in these circumstances to impose the twelve-hour hold, provide victim notification, and issue a no contact order as a condition of bail. • When a hearing takes place, it will not require a victim to be present and come back and have to testify against a person with whom they may have a very close relationship, which can be a difficult thing for these victims to do. • This bill simply gives judges the discretion to make those no contact orders part of the conditions for release on bond.
Senate Bill 1735 / by Kelsey / Status: Public Chapter 586 / Effective Date: July 1, 2018