Wallet cards help cops verify and enforce civil-protection orders

YOUNGSTOWN — Wallet-sized cards summarizing civil-protection orders provide police with a practical way to verify and enforce those orders, Mahoning County’s domestic relations court judge said.

“It’s a convenient method for domestic-violence victims to provide evidence that they have a protection order,” said Judge Beth A. Smith of that court, who had a news conference today to announce the launch of the card-issuance program, which is the first of its kind in Ohio.

The cards, which can be carried by a victim at all times, contain information from the protection order, including the name and identifying characteristics of the person ordered to stay away, names of protected people, and dates of issuance and expiration. There is no fee for the CPO or the card issued by that court.

The card, which resembles a credit card or driver’s license, is more durable and convenient to carry than the 81⁄2-by-11-inch, five-page court order itself, the judge said. The yellow-bordered cards are being issued to people with protection orders lasting at least one year, she added.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com