GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A new statewide online portal is making it easier for Wisconsin domestic violence survivors to apply for restraining orders without navigating lengthy paper forms.
Advocates at Golden House, a domestic abuse treatment center in Green Bay, say the system reduces barriers, shortens appointment times and allows survivors to complete applications whenever they’re ready to begin the process.
“Imagine being scared. You’re scared for your safety, which is the reason why you’re doing the restraining order in the first place. And then being handed a packet this big of paperwork to fill out,” said Stephanie Prevost, associate director at Golden House. “This new online system makes it much easier. It prompts people. It talks in plain language that everybody can understand.”
Statewide rollout follows pilot program
Wisconsin debuted the online restraining order portal statewide in September, after advocates helped test it in an eight-county pilot program. The system walks users through the process in plain language and allows them to file from home at any time of day…