Starting Monday, Doddridge County will be the latest West Virginia county to allow victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to remotely seek court protection.
The Remote Victim Outreach Program is supported by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia with federal grant funding. It allows petitioners to avoid direct contact with the other parties in court by filing petitions and participating in court hearings remotely.
“The Remote Victim Outreach Program allows victims of domestic violence, stalking, rape or dating violence to use remote video technology to seek the protections of the court in a safe, less intimidating setting,” Chief Justice C. Haley Bunn said.
Individuals in Doddridge County will be able to use the HOPE, Inc. family crisis center for petitions and remote hearings.
Doddridge County is the 15th county to participate in the remote program. Other active counties include Cabell, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Marion, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Ohio, Wayne and Wood.
“This program helps ensure our justice system is accessible to citizens facing the most difficult of circumstances and we look forward to facilitating its continued expansion to more counties across West Virginia,” Bunn said.
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