Hope cards improve security for abuse victims

Victims of domestic violence in Fairfax County have a new tool to protect their security. 

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, the Fairfax County Police Department in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court now offers the Hope Card to people who have obtained protective orders for 12 months or longer.

The free, laminated wallet-size Hope card gives victims a way to provide information about their existing order to law enforcement officers responding to incidence involving violations of a protective order. The cards contain the name and physical characteristics of the abuser, their Social Security number and date of birth, and whether the abuse incident involved a weapon.

The cards should reduce the time for officers on the scene to verify if there is a valid protective order in place.

For more information about the Hope Card, contact the Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division, 703-246-2141, the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Action Center, 703-236-4573, or statewide Hope Card Program Coordinator Jaime Clemmer, [email protected].