When you speak to the Officer in Charge (OC) or the Court Victim Advisor, it is most effective to provide a specific list of “Non-Contact and Exclusion Conditions.” This removes any ambiguity for the Judge and the Police if a breach occurs later.
Below is a template of conditions you can provide. Select only the ones that apply to your specific situation.
Proposed Bail Conditions for [Defendant Name]
- Residence: The defendant must reside at [Address, e.g., a relative’s house in another suburb] and remain there between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM daily (a curfew).
- No Contact: The defendant is not to contact [Your Name] or [Children’s Names] directly or indirectly (this includes through social media, third parties, or “accidental” messages).
- Exclusion Zones: The defendant is not to go within [e.g., 200 metres] of the following locations:
- The protected person’s residence at [Your Address].
- The protected person’s place of employment at [Work Address].
- [Child’s Name]’s school or daycare at [School Address].
- Drug/Alcohol Prohibition: The defendant is not to consume alcohol or any non-prescription drugs, as these are known triggers for their violent behavior.
- Digital Monitoring: The defendant must not post any reference to the protected person or the ongoing court proceedings on any social media platform.
- Weapon Surrender: The defendant must surrender all firearms and any other weapons to the New Zealand Police immediately.
Tips for sending this to the Police:
- Email it: Sending these in an email to your Officer in Charge creates a written record that you requested these protections.
- Explain the “Why”: If you ask for a 200m exclusion zone around your work, briefly state why (e.g., “He has shown up there three times in the last month to intimidate me”).
- Third-Party Contact: Be very clear that “indirect contact” includes him asking his friends or family members to message you on his behalf.
Staying Safe and Sane 