Enforcement of Canadian domestic-violence protection order by law enforcement officer.

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1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 and NRS 33.146, a law enforcement officer shall enforce a Canadian domestic-violence protection order and shall make an arrest for a violation thereof in the same manner that a law enforcement officer would make an arrest for a violation of a temporary or extended order issued by a court of this State unless it is apparent to the officer that the order is not authentic on its face. An officer shall determine that an order is authentic on its face if the order contains:

(a) The names of the parties;

(b) Information indicating that the order has not expired; and

(c) Information indicating that the court which issued the order had legal authority to issue the order as evidenced by a certified copy of the order, a file-stamped copy of the order, an authorized signature or stamp of the court which issued the order or another indication of the authority of the court which issued the order.

An officer may determine that any other order is authentic on its face.

2. In enforcing a Canadian domestic-violence protection order or arresting a person for a violation of such an order, a law enforcement officer may rely upon:

(a) A copy of the order that has been provided to the officer;

(b) An order that is included in the Repository for Information Concerning Orders for Protection pursuant to NRS 33.095 or in any national crime information database;

(c) Oral or written confirmation from a law enforcement agency or court in which the order was issued that the order is valid and effective; or

(d) An examination of the totality of the circumstances concerning the existence of a valid and effective order, including, without limitation, the statement of a person protected by the order that the order remains in effect.

3. The fact that a Canadian domestic-violence protection order has not been registered or included in the Repository for Information Concerning Orders for Protection in the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History pursuant to NRS 33.095 or in any national crime information database is not grounds for a law enforcement officer to refuse to enforce the terms of the order unless it is apparent to the officer that the order is not authentic on its face.

4. If a law enforcement officer determines that an otherwise valid Canadian domestic-violence protection order cannot be enforced because the adverse party has not been notified of or served with the order, the officer shall notify the protected person that the officer will make reasonable efforts to contact the adverse party, consistent with the safety of the protected person. After notice to the protected person and consistent with the safety of the protected person, the law enforcement officer shall make a reasonable effort to inform the adverse party of the order, notify the adverse party of the terms of the order, provide a record of the order, if available, to the adverse party and allow the adverse party a reasonable opportunity to comply with the order before the officer enforces the order.

5. If a law enforcement officer determines that a person is a protected person, the officer shall inform him or her of available local victims’ services.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 620; A 2019, 2835)


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