The electronic service protection order court pilot supports efforts to develop and implement programs for properly and legally serving protection orders through electronic communication methods

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded the Unified Court System of New York State $1.5 million on October 1, 2025, under the Grants to State and Tribal Courts to Implement Protection Order Pilot Programs (CFDA 16.062). The award funds the Kings County Integrated Domestic Violence Court to develop and implement a program for properly and legally serving protection orders through electronic communication methods and to develop a best practices manual relating to electronic service of orders of protection.

The Unified Court System, operating through its Office of Court Administration, leads a multidisciplinary partnership that includes the New York State Sheriffs Office and Safe Horizon as collaborating partners. The project runs through September 30, 2030, with performance taking place in New York, NY. The assistance type is a project grant.

The program awards grants to state or tribal courts that are a part of a multidisciplinary partnership that includes, to the extent practicable, a state, tribal, or local law enforcement agency; a state, tribal, or local prosecutors office; a victim service provider or state or tribal domestic violence coalition; a provider of culturally specific services; a nonprofit program or government agency with demonstrated experience in providing legal assistance or legal advice to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; the bar association of the state or tribe; the state or tribal association of court clerks; a state, tribal, or local association of criminal defense attorneys; at least two individuals with experience in design and management of court case management systems; at least two state or tribal court judges with expertise in domestic violence and issuing protective orders; and a judge assigned to the criminal docket of the state or tribal court. Through this new electronic service protection order court pilot project, the new york state unified court system, kings county integrated domestic violence court, will collaborate with the new york state sheriffs office and safe horizon, to develop and implement programs for properly and legally serving protection orders through electronic communication methods. During the course of the proposed project period, kings county integrated domestic violence court and its project partners will 1. Develop and implement a program for properly and legally serving protection orders by electronic communication methods and 2. Develop a best practices manual relating to the electronic service of orders of protection.