Tulare County, CA

Domestic violence is one of the most serious public health and criminal justice issues facing women today. Thousands of women are injured, even killed, each year by an abusive spouse because help was not available. Batterers are able to control their victims with fear and threats, preventing many from seeking the help they need. Sometimes the first step in getting help comes in the form of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)-a court order instructing the batterer from coming into contact with the victim. Many times a TRO takes several days to process and women fear the repercussions if their abusive spouse finds out they have applied for a TRO before the TRO has been issued. Tulare County uses XForms to speed up the process of obtaining a TRO, to bring women with relief they need faster and more efficiently. Victims can obtain a TRO within just hours at a designated shelter, in a discrete and private location. A court appointed councilor first evaluates the victim . Upon finding the woman has in fact been a victim of domestic violence, the councilor will fill out all the necessary paperwork online. The forms and data are routed to the court electronically. When the court has approved the documents, a TRO is issued, which is sent back to the councilor at the shelter to give to the victim.