Statutes: Iowa

1. An automated protective order victim notification system is established within the crime victim assistance division of the department of justice to assist public officials in informing registered victims of domestic abuse and sexual abuse pursuant to chapters 236 and 236A, the families of victims, and other interested persons of the date and time of service of a protective order upon respondents who are the subjects of protective orders and of the expiration dates of the protective orders. The system shall also have the capability to notify victims of the expiration of the protective orders thirty days prior to their expiration dates.

2. The automated protective order victim notification system shall disseminate the information to registered users through telephonic, electronic, or other means of access.

3. A law enforcement agency or any other public or private agency responsible for serving civil protective orders shall enter the date and time of the service of a protective order into the Iowa court information system or other secure electronic database intended only for law enforcement use within twenty-four hours of service of the protective order upon a respondent in a domestic abuse or sexual abuse case pursuant to chapter 236 or 236A. A law enforcement agency or any other public or private agency responsible for serving civil protective orders which has made a good-faith effort to serve a protective order upon a respondent and which is unable to comply with the requirements of this subsection shall notify the appropriate clerk of the district court, who shall, if possible, enter such information into the automated protective order victim notification system.

4. The standard forms prescribed by the department of justice to be used by victims of domestic abuse and sexual abuse pursuant to chapters 236 and 236A shall include a space to allow victims to register for service of process and expiration notifications pursuant to this section.

4A. An office, agency, or department may satisfy a notification obligation to registered victims required by this subchapter through participation in the kit tracking system established pursuant to section 915.53 to the extent information is available for dissemination through the kit tracking system. This subsection shall not relieve a notification obligation under this subchapter due to the unavailability of information for dissemination through the kit tracking system.5. For the purposes of this section, “registered” means having provided the county attorney with the victim’s written request for registration and current mailing address and telephone number. “Registered” also means having provided the county attorney notice in writing that the victim has filed a request for registration with the automated protective order victim notification system established in this section.