This page uses extracted PDF text. Text can misread numbers, dates or table columns. Check the PDF before quoting or interpreting it. Redacted areas remain redacted.
Newport News Police Department
B. Preliminary Protective Order for Spousal Abuse
The responding officer will:
1. Advise the alleged victim to contact the 7th District Court Services Unit - Intake Office to arrange for
a preliminary protective order. Convey this information to the alleged victim when an arrest is made
or when probable cause necessary for an arrest cannot be established.
NOTE: Avoid advising the alleged victim to seek a preliminary protective order in the presence of
the alleged suspect or abuser.
2. Inform the alleged victim that a preliminary protective order, not to exceed 15 days, can be issued
without the offender being present or represented when an immediate and present danger of spouse
abuse or acts of violence, force, or threat (or criminal offenses that may result in injury to person or
property, or communication or other contacts of any kind by the respondent as set forth in §19.2-
152.9 Code of Virginia) exist and that there does not have to be a prior Emergency Protective Order.
3. Upon receipt of a preliminary protective order by the Department, the name of the person subject to
the protective order and other appropriate information from the order shall be entered into the VCIN
system.
C. Protective Orders in Cases of Abuse
1. A court may issue a protective order in family abuse cases (§§16.1-279.1 or 19.2-152.10 of the Code
of Virginia). When issued through the magistrate, Circuit Court, General District Court, or Juvenile
and Domestic Relations Court, the preliminary order information will be entered into VCIN by that
entity. Records personnel are responsible for ensuring that any verified changes to the preliminary
identifying information are entered into VCIN.
2. The clerk of the court issuing the order shall forward an attested copy to the Police Department. Upon
receipt of the order, the Records personnel will ensure (§16.1-253.4 Code of Virginia) the name of
the person subject to the protective order and other appropriate verified information from the order
is entered into VCIN.
D. Violation of the Provisions of Protective Orders
1. Officers shall enforce the provisions of §§16.1-253.2 and 18.2-60.4 of the Code of Virginia (violating
the provisions of protective orders) and arrest any person who violates any provision of a protective
order issued pursuant to [74.2.1]
a. §16.1-253: Preliminary protective orders
b. §16.1-253.1: Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse
c. §19.2-152.9: Preliminary protective orders in cases of violence, force or threat
d. §16.1-253.4: Emergency protective orders in cases of family abuse
e. §19.2-152.8: Emergency protective orders in cases of violence, force or threat
f. §16.1-278.14: Criminal jurisdiction of protective orders in family offenses
g. §16.1-279.1: Protective orders in cases of family abuse
h. §19.2-152.10: Protective orders in cases of violence, force or threat
i. §20-103 B: Court orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc.
2. Officers shall enforce protective orders to protect the health and safety of a petitioner.
3. The responding officer shall verify the following information to determine probable cause or arrest
in violation of any protective order:
a. An unexpired protective order.
b. Successful service of the protective order on the alleged abuser; and
OPS-430 - 9 of 10 – 04/13/2026Jump to an indexed page (10 of 10)