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 $1.5 million to Puerto Rico's Office Court Administration on October 1, 2025, under the Grants to State and Tribal Courts to Implement Protection Order Pilot Programs (CFDA 16.062). The award funds development and implementation of electronic service methods for protection orders through September 30, 2030, with performance in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Judicial Branch, in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Office of Court Administration, Directorate of Information Technology, Proyecto Matria, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, will enhance the speed and efficiency of protection order service, improve victim and survivor safety by reducing delays in service, and ensure protection orders become enforceable as quickly as possible. The project will develop best practices for electronic service of protection orders. The multidisciplinary partnership includes law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers, legal assistance organizations, bar associations, court clerk associations, criminal defense attorneys, court case management system experts, and domestic violence court judges, as required by the program.

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, puerto rico judicial branch will collaborate with the puerto rico office of court administration, the directorate of information technology, proyecto matria, and the puerto rico police bureau to develop and implement programs for properly and legally serving protection orders through electronic communication methods. During the course of the proposed project period, puerto rico judicial branch and its project partners will: 1. Enhance the speed and efficiency of service of protection orders; 2. Improve the safety of victims and survivors by reducing delays in the service or projection orders; 3. Ensure that protection orders are enforceable as quickly as possible; 4. Develop best practices for electronic service, including with the use of verification and tracking technologies; and 5. Align all processes with due process requirements and legal standards.