Delays in the Issuance of Fayette County Protective Orders

In Fayette County, concerns are growing as delays in the issuance of protective orders become increasingly evident. A significant study that sheds light on the state of protective orders in the region recently came to the public eye. According to this report, an average of four people filed a protective order on a daily basis in Lexington last year.

Key Findings From the Report

This report, a result of prolonged and meticulous work, discloses key patterns and data interrelated to protective orders in Fayette County. A startling discovery made was that individuals, on average, wait nearly two months to appear before a judge who is tasked with approving or denying their request. This starkly contrasts with the situation in 2009, where the average waiting period was 17 days.

“We have realized that over the past several years, the time between filing for a petition and actually receiving a hearing for a protective order has tripled,” said Stephanie Theakston, a representative of Fayette County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. This longer waiting period presumes a significant impact on the petitioners, adding even more anxiety and uncertainty to an already distressing situation.

Concerns With Waiting Periods and Denial of Orders

The report produced by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition diligently analyzed the protective orders filed in Lexington in the year 2023. Out of these, only about 40% of the cases went before a judge, with the remaining petitioners provided with an emergency or temporary protective order. For cases requiring further information to decide on the approval of the order, they are placed in the family court docket.

The longer waiting periods have been identified as a source of worry, as survivors are left in a state of unease for months. Furthermore, nearly 400 people last year were denied orders due to inconsistent interpretations of ‘imminent threat,’ the most common reason given for orders not being granted.

The Prospective Solutions and Positive Outcomes

Despite the apparent challenges, the report does offer several recommendations for resolving these issues. Advocates like Dianne Fleet, the assistant director of the Greenhouse17 emergency shelter, hope that these findings can be the groundwork for implementing change and solutions. The final results found that 76% of protective orders were granted, and half of the petitioners reported being strangled. In total, about 1,547 orders were requested last year in Fayette County.

Interestingly, the report also highlighted that nearly 1,000 children and more than 200 pets were protected last year through these orders. Therefore, even amidst the issues and delays highlighted by the study, there is evidence that the system has made a positive impact on the community.