# Four Safeguards

> Research and a proposed Iowa bill on criminal no-contact orders (Iowa Code ch. 664A) and civil protective orders (ch. 236). Not a repeal. Not legal advice. An order already signed stays in force until the court that issued it changes it.

Site: https://foursafeguards.org/
Campaign: foursafeguards.org

## Purpose

Courts tolerate ex parte protective and no-contact orders only with four safeguards: (1) a verified, specific claim of imminent harm; (2) a fixed short duration; (3) a prompt evidentiary hearing; (4) applicant candor with a real remedy when candor fails. Iowa’s criminal § 664A.3 order is mandatory at initial appearance, can last the life of the case, and lacks a hearing on the order, a fixed short end, required findings before a five-year § 664A.5 extension (State v. Hall, Iowa May 22, 2026, unanimous), and a candor duty. This site asks the Iowa Legislature to add six cheap sections — not to repeal chapters 236 or 664A.

## Six bill sections (cheapest first)

1. Hearing within 14 days on request for the criminal no-contact order, State carries the burden.
2. Written findings before any five-year order under § 664A.5.
3. Fixed short duration / review for the criminal order (not the life of the case alone).
4. Applicant candor recital on the civil side.
5. Fee shift / remedy when civil candor fails.
6. Annual public measurement report (orders entered, denied, extended, reversed; contempt; repeat assault within 12 months). Emergency civil access under § 236.6 / HF 523 is left alone.

## What this is not

- Not a repeal of ch. 236 or ch. 664A
- Not legal advice; not about any private case
- Not permission to contact a protected person while an order forbids it
- Not an endorsement of any legislator listed on /sponsors
- Owner / personal names are not published on this site

## Key URLs

- https://foursafeguards.org/ — campaign home
- https://foursafeguards.org/bill — model bill text
- https://foursafeguards.org/bill.txt — plain-text bill download
- https://foursafeguards.org/kit — sponsor ask kit
- https://foursafeguards.org/sponsors — Judiciary roster (legis.iowa.gov)
- https://foursafeguards.org/testimony — subcommittee leave-behind
- https://foursafeguards.org/action — how to ask your members
- https://foursafeguards.org/faq — counterarguments, including objections you will hear
- https://foursafeguards.org/measurement — Iowa publishes no outcome series
- https://foursafeguards.org/states — peer-jurisdiction hearing comparison
- https://foursafeguards.org/cases — authorities with P / S / U verification
- https://foursafeguards.org/research — research memo
- https://foursafeguards.org/press — media excerpt kit
- https://foursafeguards.org/timeline — 2027 session path
- https://foursafeguards.org/opinion — public comment (no mailing list)
- https://foursafeguards.org/changelog — what shipped

## Optional machine path

- https://foursafeguards.org/llms.txt (this file)
- https://foursafeguards.org/.well-known/llms.txt (same text)

Last updated: 2026-11-03