As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Court" means judges in the classes of courts identified in Title 15 and any other person while acting as such a judge pursuant to designation as otherwise authorized by law.

(2) "Foreign court" means a court of competent jurisdiction in any state other than this state or any territory or tribal jurisdiction in the United States.

(3) "Foreign protective order" means any temporary protective order, protective order, restraining order, or injunction that prohibits acts of family violence or stalking or both issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territory, or tribal jurisdiction in the United States.

(4) "Law enforcement officer" means any agent or officer of this state, or a political subdivision or municipality thereof, who, as a full-time or part-time employee, is vested either expressly by law or by virtue of public employment or service with authority to enforce the criminal or traffic laws and whose duties include the preservation of public order, the protection of life and property, or the prevention, detection, or investigation of crime. Such term also includes the following: state or local officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, dispatcher, 911 operator, police officer, prosecuting attorney, member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, a hearing officer and parole officer of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and a probation officer of the Department of Corrections.

(5) "Modification" means any amendment, dismissal, or continuance of a protective order.

(6) "Prosecuting attorney" means each attorney elected to represent a judicial circuit in this state and any assistant or deputy district attorney, or solicitor, in each judicial circuit in this state.

(7) "Protective order" means any ex parte, temporary, six-month, permanent order, or restraining order issued by a judge in this state pursuant to Code Sections 16-5-90 through 16-5-94 or this chapter and also where appropriate in this context includes a foreign protective order.

(8) "Registry" means the Georgia Protective Order Registry.