Media · excerpt kit
Press kit
Short copy for reporters and editors. Numbers and holdings match the pages linked below. Nothing here names a private person or an owner of this site.
Boilerplate
Four Safeguards is a research and legislative campaign focused first on Iowa’s criminal no-contact statute, Iowa Code chapter 664A, and second on civil protective orders under chapter 236. It proposes six statutory sections—cheapest first—not a repeal. The Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in State v. Hall (May 22, 2026) held that a five-year order under § 664A.5 requires only a conviction, deferred judgment, or plea and that due process is usually satisfied by notice and an opportunity to be heard; courts will not invent a findings requirement, so only the Legislature can add one. Existing orders stay in force until the issuing court changes them.
Quotable lines
- “Courts tolerate ex parte orders only with four safeguards; Iowa’s criminal no-contact order skips them.” — Home
- “Hall held that a five-year § 664A.5 order needs no additional findings—so only the Legislature can require them.” — Authorities; Cheapest lever §2
- “This is six sections, cheapest first—not a repeal of chapter 236 or 664A.” — Model bill; Sponsor kit
- “Iowa publishes no outcome series for either chapter: how many orders, how many contempts, what happened next.” — Measurement
- “Holt (JAMA 2002): temporary orders, more police-reported psychological abuse over twelve months, RR 4.9 (95% CI 2.8–8.6); permanent orders, less police-reported physical violence, RR 0.2 (95% CI 0.1–0.8).” — Measurement; Harm
- “Dowling and colleagues (AIC 2018) pooled four studies: odds ratio 0.59 (95% CI 0.47–0.73); the authors call the effect small.” — Measurement
- “HF 523 takes effect July 1, 2026; the 2026 session adjourned sine die May 3, 2026; this draft leaves § 236.6 alone.” — Timeline
Links
Not legal advice. This site publishes research and a proposed bill. An order already signed stays in force until the court that issued it changes it. Do not contact a protected person while an order forbids it.