Connecticut court system chooses CA services to bolster enforcement of protective orders

Computer Associates International, Inc (CA) today announced that the Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut is using a central Protective Order Registry designed by CA Services to provide state law enforcement agencies with real-time, online access to complete information about the subjects and protected parties associated with every order.

Based on CA`s advanced Case Management System (CMS) solution, the registry interfaces with the Connecticut State Police network to give police, probation officers, bail commissioners, and court officials in Connecticut instant access to all public details of protective, restraining and certain no-contact orders issued in state courts.

When court clerks input the information at the end of each day, the registry automatically faxes and messages it to the relevant local law enforcement authorities and, through the State Police system, electronically notifies the FBI`s National Protective Order File. In addition, the online registry alerts the Connecticut State Police Gun Registry that an order has been issued so that it can be determined if the subject of an order has a permit for or possesses firearms.

"CA Services delivered a custom solution that provides instant access to everything law enforcement needs to know about orders of protection in order to assist in the safety of victims," said Robert Bosco, director of strategic management, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. "Putting it bluntly, CA`s solution will help save lives."

Previously, court clerks mailed local police where the subject and protected party lived and worked, protective restraining orders within 48 hours. The victim bore the burden of maintaining a paper copy of the order to validate for police, statewide, that an order existed - a situation that all too often led to delays and perhaps tragedy. To rectify this and comply with state and federal crime reporting mandates, the Judicial Branch decided to create a single centralised database for civil and criminal protection orders. After evaluation, the courts chose CA Services for its ability to adapt its proven courtroom management solution to suit Connecticut`s specific requirements. CA Services partnered with Etchasoft Systems of Jacksonville, Florida, to create an interface linking the state`s civil courts, criminal courts, and law enforcement agencies.

Launched in January 2002 in three of the state`s 13 judicial districts, Connecticut`s new Protective Order Registry became available statewide in mid-July. It reduces the time required to alert law enforcement agencies about protective orders from up to 48 hours to immediate notification once the order is entered, alerting them to potential problems at precisely the time the protected person is most at risk. Authorities can more readily enforce the state law requiring subjects of protective orders to surrender any guns within 48 hours. Moreover, police can for the first time determine on the spot in their patrol cars whether a suspect is in violation of an order and thereby subject to arrest. The registry also automatically generates letters to protected parties when orders are about to expire, giving them the opportunity to renew the orders as well as saving court clerks hours of research and typing.

The state hopes to extend the registry to its juvenile justice system as well, further improving Connecticut`s ability to protect its citizens while easing the court system`s administrative workload.

"Our new CA solution keeps authorities informed faster and more accurately than ever before," said Bosco. "More importantly, even though we can`t quantify things that haven`t happened, we know the registry is helping police enforce protective orders before someone is harmed."