Indiana domestic-violence survivors who have gotten protective orders against their abusers may now find it easier to prove it.
Until now, victims had to carry around a copy of what generally is a multi-page court order. Indiana is the third state to introduce a wallet-sized card bearing the case number of a protective order, so police can look it up on a newly created state database.
"It‘s a very difficult situation with domestic abuse cases, where the law enforcement is put into a position of having to take sides. What this Hope Card does is it makes it very clear-cut," says Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Michelle Gilbert.
Verizon Wireless picked up the $30,000 cost of the program.
She says police and victim advocates have undergone training so they will understand how the card works.