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Bill would let Maryland judges and local police consider military protective orders off base
Summary
House Bill 533 would give Maryland judges explicit authority to consider an existing military protective order when deciding civilian protective relief and require civilian law enforcement to notify military authorities when probable cause exists that an MPO was violated; supporters said the change would close gaps for victims who leave military
Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield told the Judiciary Committee that House Bill 533 is designed to provide continuity of protection for victims who have military protective orders (MPOs) and later interact with civilian courts or policing.
Supporters, including Lisa Jordan of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Christopher Arnold, a Department of Defense regional liaison, said MPOs are enforceable only on military installations and that protection can vanish when a service member or victim leaves base. Arnold said two-thirds of military families live off-installation and that civilian courts may hesitate to issue orders if they believe a commander’s MPO already provides protection.
Lisa Jordan described practical problems such as a defendant driving past a victim’s residence after a military protective order was issued; because MPOs are typically enforceable on base only, civilian authorities could not pursue separate violations without a civilian protective order. The bill would allow judges to consider an MPO as context when weighing civilian relief and would require civilian law enforcement to share information with military authorities when probable cause suggests an MPO was violated off base.
Witnesses said similar bills have advanced in other states this season and that the Department of Defense supports closing the jurisdictional gap. The committee asked clarifying questions about jurisdiction and enforcement in mixed federal/state locations.
The committee did not vote at the hearing.
