Domestic Violence Awareness

The response to domestic violence is no longer crisis intervention but crime intervention. The goals of the police are to stop the violence, make the victim safe or safer, and to hold the batterer accountable.

About the Class

In this 1-hour presentation, the police response to domestic violence is discussed. We offer information on current police procedures when domestic violence is suspected, how probable cause is established from the evidence of the victim's injury, statements from those involved, and evidence gathered at the scene. We discuss the components of the investigation including the following  which relate to a successful prosecution:

• 911 tapes
• Impounded evidence
• Medical records,
• Paramedic run sheets
• Photographs of the victim's injuries

Stages of the Victim's Experience

This presentation also discusses the stages in the victim's experience from denial through living without violence. For a victim, leaving is a process, not an act.