WA hands out 2,000 'Hope Cards' to people with protection orders in program's first 6 months [View all]

Washington’s Hope Card program has given out 2,000 wallet-sized, portable copies of protection orders, according to the program’s organizers.

Launched Jan. 1, the program offers vulnerable adults and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and harassment who have civil protection orders against their abusers an easier alternative to carrying bulky court documents with them at all times.

The program is intended to make it easier for law enforcement to deal with protection order violations and protect survivors.

“It’s really translating to a breaking of chains for people,” said Lauren Pilnick, Hope Card senior court program analyst for the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts. “Being able to have one less thing regarding their victimization on their mind every time they leave the house is hard to quantify, but it’s huge for people.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-hands-out-2000-hope-cards-to-people-with-protection-orders-in-programs-first-6-months/