Committee hears bill to allow sheriffs rapid access to court protection orders

Senate Bill 2289, introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee by Senator Kristen Rohrs, would permit sheriffs to directly access protection-order records in the court case management system (Odyssey) so they can confirm and act on recently issued domestic-violence and sexual-assault protection orders.

The bill was introduced by Senator Kristen Rohrs, District 27 of South Fargo, who said the change responded to sheriff requests after officers arriving at 911 calls could not always find newly issued protection orders in NCIC. "We know that that first 24 hours after someone seeks help is the most dangerous 24 hours," Rohrs said, describing the bill as a tool for law enforcement to verify temporary or recently issued orders and, when appropriate, serve or remove people from a scene.

Supporters and witnesses said they backed the bill’s purpose but recommended technical changes. Seth O'Neil of the North Dakota Domestic and Sexual Violence…