Franklin County launches Hope Card program

Published on September 01, 2025

A new resource is now available for victims of domestic violence who have civil protection orders.

The Hope Card, introduced in late 2024, is a wallet-sized, durable plastic card that provides a summary of the details of the court order.

Anyone with a final civil protection order (CPO) in Franklin County can receive a Hope Card. The card is more convenient to carry than a full paper version of the court order, allowing individuals to always have pertinent information about their civil protection order on hand.

The card is particularly useful if a petitioner needs to alert law enforcement to the existence of a protection order—for instance, in public or during a traffic stop—when it is unlikely they will have a copy of the full court order with them.

In 2023, Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court issued more than 1,000 civil protection orders. Hope Cards are available to anyone with a final CPO. Applications can be completed at the courthouse and online.

Judge James Brown initiated the Hope Card project in Franklin County after learning about its successful implementation in other areas, including counties in Virginia and Montana.

“While the frequency of utilizing the Hope Card may be rare, it provides one more important layer of protection for the survivor of domestic violence,” Judge Brown said.

While the Hope Card is not a substitute for the official court order, it does provide law enforcement with enough information to confirm the existence of a valid protection order issued by Franklin County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court. The card includes details law enforcement can use to verify the order and its terms.

The card contains information about the petitioner, the respondent, the terms of the civil protection order, the issuance and expiration dates, and identifying characteristics of the respondent.

It is important to note that the Hope Card does not replace the formal court order. Law enforcement must still verify the order with the court to ensure its validity.