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You are here: Resources / Domestic Violence / Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence

Chicago Heights: Domestic Violence Unit Process Evaluation (PDF)
Assessment of mandatory arrest policies under the violence Against Women Act from the Institute for Law and Justice. September 2003. 19 pages.

Effectiveness of Law Enforcement Training Toward Resolving Domestic Violence (PDF)
By Martha Smithey Ph.D., Susanne Green MA, Andrew Giacomazzi Ph.D. - January 2002. 164 pages.

Community Policing to Prevent Violence Against Women: Training Curriculum and Resource Guide
Produced by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). This document is a training manual provided by PERF to advocates, police, social service providers, and other violence-against-women professionals. It is a resource guide for community-policing approaches to reducing and preventing violence-against-women.

Domestic Violence: Best Practices for Law Enforcement Response (PDF)
A model policy under the Violence Against Women Act from the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission Violence Against Women Committee. Includes 911 dispatch protocols and protocols for officers involved in domestic violence. January 1998. 38 pages.

Centralized Response to Domestic Violence: San Diego County Sheriff (PDF)
By Susan Pennell and Cynthia Burke Ph.D. - conducted by the San Diego Association of Governments. Examines the implementation of a specialized domestic violence unit with an existing law enforcement agency. October 2002. 65 pages.

Relevent Research

Public Satisfaction With the Polie in Domestic Violence Cases: The Importance of Arrest, Expectations, and Involuntary Contact

Steve Wilson, Jana L Jasinski. American Journal of Criminal Justice : AJCJ. Louisville: Spring 2004.Vol.28, Iss. 2; pg. 235

This study examines the importance of victims' expectations of the police, the decision to arrest, and voluntary contact on satisfaction ratings of the police in domestic violence cases. Based on results from past research and modern police policy, several hypotheses are tested including: fulfilled expectations, offender arrests, and voluntary contacts resulting in positive satisfaction ratings of the police. To investigate these predictions further, the present study utilizes data from a national study on violence against women in the United States. Logistic regression analyses indicate that fulfilled expectations and the arrest decision are important to positive satisfaction ratings. Findings also indicate that involuntary, not voluntary, contact with the police leads to higher satisfaction ratings.

Perceptions of the Police by Female Victims of Domestic Partner Violence.

Robert Apsler, Michele R Cummins, Steven Carl. Violence Against Women. Thousand Oaks: Nov 2003.Vol.9, Iss. 11; pg. 1318.

For this study, 95 consecutive female victims who came to the attention of the police for a domestic violence incident involving a partner were interviewed. Victims' helpfulness ratings of police were very positive, and more than 80% would definitely call the police for help in the future. Most victims wanting their offenders arrested or wanting help with a restraining order received the help. However, many victims wanting help finding counseling were not helped. The impact on helpfulness ratings of receiving or not receiving desired assistance was mixed. Police arresting offenders despite victims' objections did not diminish victims' willingness to call the police in the future.