"Universally, that's not even an option" in counties outside Philadelphia, Green said.

But victim advocates and police argued that although Philadelphia's system can be burdensome, Council members should continue to allow victims to have control over how and when their attackers are served with protection-from-abuse orders, or PFAs.

"It is agreed among domestic-violence advocates that a survivor of family violence is always the best judge of how to proceed and which course of action is safest for her and her family," said Susan Pearlstein, supervising attorney for Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Green's and Pearlstein's comments came at a hearing by the Council's Committee on Public Safety, which is exploring alternatives to the city's process for serving batterers with protection orders.

The hearing was prompted by a Daily News series on domestic violence late last year.

Outside the city, officers with the sheriff's department or local police department are solely responsible for the job.

In Philadelphia, victims who are too afraid to confront their attacker have two choices: They can ask someone else to serve the paperwork for them or they can ask for help from police.

Each year, city police officers help serve roughly half of the 14,000 or so PFAs issued by Family Court. But officers typically ask the victims to accompany them to the attacker's house or workplace.

During the committee hearing, Green expressed concern about "victims of abuse" essentially going on a "police ride-along." He questioned the feasibility of putting in place a computerized system in which court-issued protection orders are transmitted directly to the Police Department and officers serve the orders.

Police Lt. Francis T. Healy told committee members that the current system allows victims and officers to work together to combat domestic abuse.

"Although it may be a burden for the victim to meet with the police, this allows the police officers and the victim to meet personally," Healy said. "These officers then have the ability to interact with the victim to personally inquire as to the abuser's demeanor, size, propensity for violence towards police."

The committee plans to meet again to further discuss how to make the court process smoother and safer for abuse victims.

No date was set. *