Did You Know?
Abused persons who are granted court Orders of Protection can call upon law enforcement to protect them and to take all appropriate action against abusers nationwide (Guam included) through the 1994, congress-enacted, full faith and credit provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) [18 U.S.C. § 2265-66] amended in October 2000.
Under VAWA, a protection order is defined as: any injunction or other order issued for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, or contact or communication with, or physical proximity to another person.
Protective orders may differ in form, content, length, layout and names (i.e. stay-away, restraining, criminal, and emergency or temporary protection orders or injunctions).
Ex Parte orders are emergency or temporary orders issued prior to providing the respondent or person against whom the order was issued, with notice or a hearing.
There are 15 attorneys at the Public Defender Service Corporation and if the assigned attorney is not available, the case will be forwarded to an available attorney.
Once the paperwork has been completed, it will be filed at court for an Ex Parte hearing date and time. Our office will notify the victim to appear at this hearing.
A police report IS NOT required.