MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Chief Judge Ann Callis has recently approved the use of electronic standardized orders of protection for the Third Judicial Circuit.

The standardized templates were developed by Richard Farthing, Roxana police chief and director of Public Safety, along with the assistance of Judy Nelson, chief deputy of the circuit clerk's office, as well as Lt. Marc McLemore and telecommunicator Leslie Groshong with the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

The concept originated from the Law Enforcement Committee of the Third Judicial Circuit Family Prevention Council.

The process of applying for an order of protection is now more user-friendly, and also ensures that vital information from orders, once granted, is uniformly passed to the Sheriff's Department.

Callis said this will result in more accurate and complete information being added immediately to the national law enforcement database, as well as quicker and more effective service of orders on respondents.

The chairs of the Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council are Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder and Associate Judge Richard Tognarelli.

The goals of the council are to educate the community about domestic violence and to develop and improve the coordination of appropriate interventions and responses to family violence.