Recommended Court Security Measures for Cases Involving Domestic Violence: A Guide for Courts

Cases involving domestic violence appear in several forms—criminal or civil protection order cases that center on domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking incidents; divorce and/or custody cases where domestic violence is present; child abuse or neglect cases where domestic violence is present; or juvenile cases where dating violence is present; among others. These cases can pose an acute risk to the safety of our nation’s courthouses, especially when court staff and judges are unaware that domestic violence is present. While courts may implement general court security best practices, domestic violence cases present uniquely dangerous risks towards courthouse safety, for both litigants and court staff. This document describes specific safety concerns with domestic violence cases, as well as practical strategies and lessons from the field for maintaining a secure courthouse environment.