11/1/05 -- The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is pleased to announce the recent publication of A Guide for Effective Issuance and Enforcement of Protection Orders (aka the Burgundy Book). Produced by the NCJFCJ’s Family Violence Department, the Burgundy Book was developed to give communities and professionals precise tools and strategies they can implement to broaden the effectiveness of protection orders, both from a practical standpoint and from a philosophical perspective.

The Burgundy Book is divided into chapters focusing on Advocates, Civil Attorneys, Courts and Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Prosecutors and was written with the view that, when professionals unite and work toward common goals, safety for victims of domestic violence and their children can be enhanced. In turn, the values of a community can change to support these efforts. The book also contains a section on Data Systems and State Registries, as well as a Resources section where professionals can obtain direct assistance.

The Burgundy Book is the culmination of more than four years of examination, site visits, and interviews with professionals in communities already changing the landscape of protection orders. This project was a joint effort with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and its National Center on Full Faith and Credit, with support from the Office on Violence Against Women. 

To order a free copy, please contact the NCJFCJ's Family Violence Department at 1-800-527-3223 or by e-mail at fvdinfo@ncjfcj.org.