Every day, our Civil Division serves restraining orders, court notices, and other critical legal protections. The very documents that can stop violence before it happens, create distance between abuser and victim, and give peace of mind to someone living in fear.

These aren’t just pieces of paper. They are lifelines. A domestic violence survivor waiting for a restraining order. A stalking victim who finally found the courage to go to court. A parent trying to protect their child. Each one of these individuals depends on that piece of paper being served.

But lately, we’re running into an unacceptable barrier: some facilities are refusing to even confirm whether a person is on site, claiming “HIPAA” prevents them from cooperating. Handing an individual a court order is not a HIPAA violation, it’s a one way transaction where medical information is not asked for, or given. We’re simply asking to deliver a court order that protects victims of violence. When these facilities refuse to allow us to serve these orders, they’re not protecting privacy, they’re protecting abusers. Why should someone in rehab for drugs or alcohol get more protection than a victim of violence? Recovery shouldn’t mean immunity from the law.

To put this into perspective, our Deputies have already attempted to serve over 5,000 restraining orders in 2025 alone. These orders span cases of workplace violence, domestic abuse, elder abuse, civil harassment, and everything in between.

Victims pay for these services out of pocket, often while trying to rebuild their lives or escape a violent situation. When a facility blocks service, it delays justice, denies protection, and undermines the court’s intent to safeguard victims.

Here are just a few of the local facilities that have repeatedly refused to allow lawful service:

Heritage Oaks Hospital (4250 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento)

Sierra Vista Hospital (8001 Bruceville Rd, Elk Grove)

Akua Mind and Body Rehabilitation Residential Sober Living (8086 Orange Ave, Fair Oaks)

Clean and Sober Transitional Living (8918 Madison Ave, Fair Oaks)

When “policy” is used as a shield for the violent or abusive, it’s not compliance - it’s complicity.

My Deputies will continue to serve these orders and I will continue to keep track and expose the health care industry when they obstruct justice and falsely use HIPAA as a reason to interfere with the law and the courts.