PORTLAND (AP) — Multnomah County’s nationally recognized domestic violence support program has stopped taking new cases because a judge ruled that defense lawyers had the right to review victim statements the organization collected and shared with police and prosecutors.

“We didn’t know what to tell victims. We were unable to say ‘Trust us, your information would remain confidential.’ So we stopped,” said Chiquita Rollins, the county’s domestic violence coordinator.

Several domestic violence victims’ advocates received subpoenas earlier this summer, ordering them to show up in Multnomah County Circuit Court with files containing victims’ statements against alleged attackers.

The subpoenas sent shock waves through the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team, made up of police officers, prosecutors, parole officers and advocates. They intervene in high-risk cases.

The defense lawyers who filed the subpoenas argued that they had the right to review the statements before trial, while advocates countered that divulging confidential information about victims would have a “substantial chilling effect” on them.

Multnomah County Judge Maureen McKnight ruled for the defense lawyers, ordering the statements be turned over. The county immediately stopped accepting new cases and spent the summer revamping the program.

“I’m bummed out,” said Portland police Capt. Chris Uehara, head of the Portland police family services division. “The momentum was strong.”

Since it began four years ago, the multiagency team has helped about 480 victims.

Joslyn Baker, who coordinates the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team, said there’s hope the program can continue. “We’re really tightening up what victims’ information can be shared with police and prosecutors,” she said.

The debate is not unique to Multnomah County. It’s arisen elsewhere in the nation where such collaboration between police and community-based advocates has been encouraged. Some states afford victims’ advocates confidentiality privileges, but not Oregon.