REPORTING A VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER
The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association has implemented a self-reporting system for use by parties to report violations of court ordered custody and visitation situations. This Office will take no initial action once your report is accepted. The report will be kept on file in our office and will be available only to the court or pursuant to a subpoena deuces tecum for records only.
A violation of a valid court order, judgment, or temporary restraining order by a named party who has been served with it or knows the contents of the order MAY be a crime; however, every deliberate violation of a court order is not necessarily a criminal act. Where appropriate, the case will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office for consideration in filing charges.
If you choose not to make a custody and visitation violation report, or if you do not have a custody and visitation order, you may want to consider contacting a family law attorney (Bar Association Attorney Referral 546-5297), for advice on how to enforce you order or get the matter before the court. As an alternative, you may contact the Sonoma County Family Law Facilitator’s Office (521-6545).
Who should use this form to report a violation of a court order?
If you have a valid court order and you believe there is a criminal violation and no physical injury, violence, or threat of violence was involved, you should use this form.
What you need to file a report.
You must provide the District Attorney with a copy of the current and valid court order which you feel the other party is violating. If you do not have a copy of your court order you may obtain one at the Family Law Clerks Office located at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa. It must be a copy which shows the County Clerk’s endorsement and case number. It must be the latest order which has been issued, if there were any modifications made to the original order.
If you do not have a copy of the court order with you, take this packet home with you and complete the report. You can then return with the completed report and a copy of the court order, or mail the report back with a copy of the court order. If there are any witnesses to the violation which you are reporting, you may wish for them to provide a separate written statement.
Instructions for delivering your Child Custody / Visitation report.
You must either:
1) Mail your report AND a copy of your Child Custody Order to:
Office of the District Attorney
600 Administration Drive Room 212J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403-2876
ATTN: Child Abduction Unit
OR
2) Personally deliver the report AND a copy of your Child Custody Order to the District Attorney’s office located at 600 Administration Dr. Room 212J
Whichever delivery method you choose, you MUST attach a copy of your Child Custody Order.
