1. Police Response to Domestic Violence
Laurie K. Crawford D. Wayne Carrier
Domestic Violence Services Coordinator Investigator
Henrico County Division of Police Henrico County Division of Police
(804) (804)

2. Special Victims Unit Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Investigations
One Sergeant and five investigators
Most felonies and some misdemeanors
Rotate on-call
Domestic Violence Services Coordinator
Training/education presentations
Public awareness
Policy and protocol development
Referrals to community services
Coalition: Over 40 public and private agency members. Governed by a Board of Directors. Five committees (Events, Public Awareness, Criminal Justice, Services, Fatality Review)
**brochure
Training/Education: Eg. Police Recruits, allied professionals, Neighborhood Watch, businesses (workplace violence), students, etc.
Public Awareness: Brochures, press releases, news articles, DV Awareness month events, wallet cards, etc.
Policy/Protocol: Firearms, Fatality Review, updates with new legislation, officer-involved d.v.
Referrals: Not direct service, but resource to allied professionals, police officers, community members, etc. Prevents us from sending victim all over the place before getting to the appropriate resource.

3. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A pattern of physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abusive behaviors used by one individual to assert power or maintain control over another in the context of an intimate or family relationship.
Includes both criminal and non-criminal acts.
Four Forms of Battering: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Destruction of Property/Pets

4. GET THE FACTS! Across the nation: A woman is battered every 9 seconds
95% of domestic violence victims are female
In homes where domestic violence is present, children are three times more likely to be physically abused as well.

5. GET THE FACTS! In Virginia:
In 2002, 40,852 individuals sought services from domestic violence programs.
4,249 children received services from domestic violence programs and crisis centers.
Last year, over 17,000 domestic violence victims sought victim/witness services.

6. GET THE FACTS! In 2003 in Henrico County:
Police received 5886 domestic calls for service.
Police made 1691 arrests for domestic assault, up from 1373 (23%) last year.
Twelve out of 24 homicides were domestic-related. Three of these were children.
The Sheriff’s Office processed 471 protective orders, compared to 370 in 2002.
1213 victims were served by the victim/witness program
Safe Harbor provided 2765 nights of shelter to 67 women and 49 children (FY02)

7. Family Violence Homicides in VA
Of 425 homicides in 2002, 134 (32%) were family or intimate-partner related.
55% of all female homicides were killed by intimate partners.
Of the 44 child homicide victims, 24 (55%) were killed by caretakers.
Firearms were used in 62% of intimate partner homicide cases.
54 children witnessed domestic homicides.
**55% of female homicides were d.v. compared to 4% of male homicides. The national average is that 33% of female homicides are d.v.—related, so a much higher % of women are being killed by partners in Virginia.

8. Definitions Assault/Assault and Battery Family or Household Member
Primary Physical Aggressor
Family Abuse
Protective Order
Emergency
Preliminary
“Permanent”
Assault--Immediate threat, no battery or actual physical harm
A&B--Intention, with a physical act (hit, push, slap, etc.) Any offensive physical act.
Family or Household Member--Spouse (regardless of residence); ex-spouse (regardless of residence), parents, children, step-parents and step-children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren (regardless of residence), in-laws living in same home, co-habitants and those who have cohabited in the past year and their children, persons who have a child in common (regardless of residence)
Primary physical aggressor- Party that poses biggest threat (not always first to assault).. -Considers: evidence of self-defense, history, severity of injuries, size and strength of parties, evidence from witnesses, etc.
Family abuse--Civil definition; Any act of violence or threat of violence, including forceful detention, which results in physical injury or places one in reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury and which is committed by a person against such person’s family or household member.
Protective Order--Restrains abuser from further violence, grants possession of residence and vehicle, prohibits contact, etc.

9. Patrol Responsibilities
Get all information from dispatch
Verify safety of parties
Separate parties
Interview ALL potential witnesses
Make arrest decision
probable cause
primary aggressor
arrest without warrant
Info. gathered b/f getting to scene: from dispatch and ALSO from computers in cars (look up recent calls for service, outstanding warrants, etc.). Include discussion of haz msg., AWARE alarms, etc.
Verify safety--Can only search w/out a warrant or permission if there is reason to believe that an emergency exists. Officers must verify safety as best they can, even when there has been a hang-up or person says everything is okay over the phone.
Separate parties--Victim will be better able to tell story of what happened when offender is out of hearing range. Officers can also compare one person’s side to another. Should always have two officers respond to domestics.
Interviews--Don’t forget the children! Also neighbors.
Arrest decision- Officers SHALL arrest if they have probably cause to believe that a person was the primary physical aggressor in a domestic assault. SHALL also arrest if the no trespass or no further abuse provision of a PO is violated. These are exceptions to other arrest procedures, which only allow warrantless arrests for felonies.

10. Patrol Responsibilities (cont.)
Collect evidence
Decide whether s/he should petition for EPO
Document incident (even w/ no arrest)
Make referrals for victims’ services
Refer to Investigations, if needed
Collect evidence--Photographs of victim, offender, the home, children, etc tape must also be collected.
EPO--Officers SHALL petition for EPO when reasonable belief exists that family abuse has occurred. B/c criminal and civil definitions differ, there are times when an officer may not make an arrest but is still required to petition for an EPO.
Documenting the Incident--Indicate on report why an arrest was or was not made, how primary aggressor was determined, victim’s and offender’s statements (if available), etc. **Show DV Supplement used in Henrico
Referrals to Investigations--Two domestic violence detectives in Division. They handle felony domestics and also follow up on misdemeanors that require further investigation (more witnesses need to be interviewed, stalking, etc.)
Victims’ Services--Referrals required by the Code. **Show Victims’ Rights Info. Sheet that officers hand out as well as wallet card.

11. A Few Words About Prosecution
Specialized prosecutors
“No drop” policy
“Evidence-based” style of prosecution
Batterer’s Intervention Programs

12. Resources in Henrico County
Police
Domestic Violence Services Coordinator
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
Safe Harbor
YWCA 24-hour hotline
Legal Aid
Mental Health
Social Services
Police--Not only patrol but only Community Services and Crime Prevention
DV Coordinator--Training programs, referrals, consultation and technical assistance, info. on Children’s Group, etc.
Victim/Witness--In addition to cases already going to court, can help with protective orders, compensation, options.
Safe Harbor & YWCA---Emergency Shelter, Case management, support groups, etc.
Legal Aid--Protective orders, custody, support, visitation, divorce, property issues
Mental Health--Women’s Substance Abuse Program, Individual and Group Counseling for Children and Adults
Social Services--CPS, Voluntary program for Women in Transition,

13. Using Technology to Identify and Address High Risk Offenders
“The Domestic Violence Early Intervention Program”
Computer Program to Identify
Automatic notification on serious offenses
Indicator crimes weighted
Further Investigation into History
Cases Selected for Referral to Criminal Justice Committee
Team Approach to Case Management

14. Career Opportunities in Law Enforcement
Requirements
Age
Education
Background Investigation
Polygraph
Training
Academy
Ongoing