NCSC seeks courts to participate in the Civil Protection Order Technical Assistance Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This initiative brings together a Learning Collaborative — featuring expert technologists, access to justice experts, mentor courts (experienced courts), and learner courts (pilot courts) — to strengthen and expand safe, user-friendly virtual-court portal technology for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases.
Please contact us with any questions about the process here.
Selected learner courts will receive hands-on technical assistance from NCSC as they pilot and refine best practices for virtual civil protection order processes. This is a unique opportunity to:
- Enhance access to justice – Ensure survivors can safely and effectively access protection order services online.
- Work with national experts – Collaborate with leading court technologists, judges, and practitioners shaping the future of court portal technology.
- Contribute to national best practices – Play a key role in advancing research and developing national guidance on virtual protection order systems.
- Learn more about this opportunity by reviewing this project description to determine requirements, timelines, and expectations.
- APPLY ONLINE. Application DEADLINE: April 30
- Please contact us with any questions about the process here.
Webinars
Join us for a series of informational webinars to explore how your court can enhance access to civil protection orders through virtual portals. Each session provides insights into key aspects of the project, from foundational concepts to implementation strategies and the learner court application process.
April 7, 2025: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
This session will provide an exploration of what court Civil Protection Order (CPO) portals are, including design considerations to enhance the safety, accessibility and fairness of legal processes for parties involved in protection order cases.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to CPO Court Portals: Understand the purpose and significance of these portals in the civil protection order landscape.
- Benefits and challenges: A thoughtful discussion on the advantages these portals offer to users, along with the hurdles faced in their implementation and usage.
- Main features: An overview of key design features to make sure portal technology addresses the needs of users, such as:
- Incorporating safety and privacy measures to protect petitioners
- Breaking down the Petition to facilitate user engagement
- Designing the look and feel for creating an intuitive experience
- Enhancing access for all individuals, including those with disabilities
- Incorporating User Testing/Feedback
This webinar is ideal for judges, court and other legal professionals, advocates, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and civil protection orders. Join us to empower yourself with knowledge that can lead to safe, fair and effective justice!
This webinar is part of the Civil Protection Order Portal Technical Assistance Project. We are seeking courts to participate as learner courts to pilot recommended guidance for virtual civil protection order processes. Technical assistance and funding are provided. Apply by April 30 to be considered.
Moderator: Alicia Davis, Principal Court Management Consultant, NCSC
Panelists:
- Sarah Mauet, UX4Justice Director, Innovation for Justice,
For more information, email Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee.
April 9, 2025: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Join us as we explore the key strategies for successfully implementing court portal technology. Panelists will provide valuable insights into the essential considerations that ensure successful deployment and ongoing effectiveness of these innovative legal tools.
Topics covered:
- Understanding current business processes to inform the design and integration of portals.
- Collaborating with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders to foster successful implementation.
- Providing effective user support to help individuals navigate the portals and access the protection they need.
- Reviewing the legal considerations and frameworks to ensure compliance and integrity.
- Assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the portals in serving users.
- Analyzing funding considerations that can support the development and maintenance of portals.
This webinar is ideal for judges, court and other legal professionals, advocates, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and civil protection orders. Join us to equip yourself with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of CPO portal implementation!
This webinar is part of the Civil Protection Order Portal Technical Assistance Project. We are seeking courts to participate as learner courts to pilot recommended guidance for virtual civil protection order processes. Technical assistance and funding are provided. Apply by April 30 to be considered.
Moderator: Yanitza Madrigal, Senior Court Management Consultant, NCSC
Panelists:
- Elsa Robbins, Technical Business Analyst, Arizona Supreme Court
- Melissa Arvin, Family Violence Resource Attorney, Indiana Office of Court Services
- Sarah Hoskinson, Director of Access to Justice, Kansas Office of Judicial Administration
- Ayyoub Ajmi, Director of Technology, CiviLaw.Tech
For more information, email Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee.
April 15, 2025: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Join us for an engaging webinar that highlights an opportunity for courts to participate in a pilot program to establish or enhance Civil Protection Order (CPO) Court Portals as part of a Technical Assistance Project, which provides training and technical assistance to courts, court-based programs, and service providers to support safe and accessible virtual court portal technology for civil protection orders. This session will guide prospective participants through the application process and clarify grant expectations associated with this innovative initiative.
Topics covered:
- Learner (pilot) court opportunity: Learn about the unique chance for selected courts to lead the way in implementing and refining these portals.
- How to apply: Step-by-step guidance on the application process, including key eligibility criteria and important deadlines.
- Grant expectations: Understand the expectations tied to the grant, including reporting requirements, performance metrics, and support resources available to Learner Courts.
This webinar is perfect for court administrators, legal professionals, and stakeholders interested in pioneering new solutions for civil protection orders. Join us to discover how you can be at the forefront of enhancing access to justice through technology! Join us to learn more about the project and the application process to determine if your court is eligible. Apply by April 30 to be considered.
Moderator: Alicia Davis, Principal Court Management Consultant, NCSC
Panelists:
- Sarah Mauet, UX4Justice Director, Innovation for Justice
- Yanitza Madrigal, Senior Court Management Consultant, NCSC
- Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee, Court Management Consultant, NCSC
For more information, email Sarah Vandenberg Van Zee.
This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05485-MUMU awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.