1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of the pending bill to provide free service of Personal Protection Orders (PPOs) across Michigan, a measure recently advanced by the state Senate. I have been deeply personally affected by the issues this bill seeks to address. I am a survivor of sexual assault, and I serve on the Survivor Advisory Council at Resilience: Advocates for Violence. Through that work and in my personal life, I know many people in West Michigan who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or threats. Under current law, even after a judge grants a PPO, many victims are forced to pay a fee to law enforcement to serve the order, a barrier that can delay or discourage service. This means that survivors may remain unprotected for days or longer, with their abusers free to continue harassing or even endangering them. In one tragic example, a victim in Detroit had a PPO, but it was never served, and she was later killed by her ex. We should not allow cost or bureaucracy to stand in the way of a person’s safety. This bill would remove that barrier and ensure that PPOs are served quickly and at no cost, giving survivors the protection they need, without forcing them to pay. Please vote YES for free and prompt PPO service in Michigan. Your support for this bill would send a clear message: survivors matter; their safety matters; and our community will not tolerate barriers that compromise protection. Thank you for your time and consideration. I trust you will stand with survivors and public safety.