A Balanced Collaboration: How Vermont Built a Protocol for Law Enforcement Response to Children and Domestic Violence (PDF)
"This paper examines the process Vermont used, including areas of both agreement and uncertainty, and introduces the protocol to a wider audience of interveners. It draws on a review of planning notes and other documents and a series of interviews with those who participated in shaping the process and the protocol. It provides a starting point for other communities to explore their own response to children at domestic violence incidents, as well as an approach that can be used to examine other aspects of intervention."
A Guide for Effective Issuance & Enforcement of Protection Orders
"This publication, also known as the Burgundy Book, was developed to give communities and professionals precise tools and strategies they can implement to broaden the effectiveness of protection orders, both from a practical standpoint and from a philosophical perspective. This guide is intended for advocates, civil attorneys, courts and judiciary, law enforcement and prosecutors."
A Report from the 2003 Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit: Prosecution Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases Jackson County, Oregon
"The audit in Jackson County was conceived to examine the response to domestic violence by the misdemeanor prosecution element of its criminal justice system. This report includes findings of the audit team and the consultant, within the context of accepted best practices; and recommendations of the audit team and the consultant, that the Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Community Works, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office can work together to implement in the months ahead."
A Report from the 2005 Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit: Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Calls (PDF)
This report reveals the audit work done in Jackson County that examines the dispatch and law enforcement response to the following aspects of domestic violence: dual arrests or arrests of women, sexual assault, stalking, strangulation, child witnesses, and when involved parties are from underserved populations such as communities of color, non-English speakers, individuals in gay or lesbian relationships, etc. Gaps in response to victim needs and recommendations are also provided.
Addressing Domestic Violence in Indian Country
This manual examines the reasons behind the presence of domestic and sexual violence in Native communities by looking at its historical origins and how to address it in the community.
Assessing Justice System Response To Violence Against Women: A Tool for Law Enforcement, Prosecution, and Courts
This document contains an assessment tool for jurisdictions to use in developing effective responses by law enforcement, prosecution, and the courts.
Assessing Justice System Response To Violence Against Women
This is the second installment on this website from the STOP-TA Project's Promising Practices Initiative. The document contains profiles of 17 non-profit victim advocacy organizations around the nation. The profiles highlight innovative outreach and service delivery strategies that address the needs of victims of sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence.
Assisting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence - Law Enforcement Guide (PDF)
This law enforcement guide will explore various immigration laws and terms that officers need to know, examine the challenges immigrant victims face navigating the justice system and identify how officers can protect and assist immigrant crime victims while managing their enforcement role.
Bridging Domestic Violence Intervention and Community Policing: Partnership and Problem-Solving Tools (PDF)
This document presents ideas, concepts, and strategies to encourage community-based domestic violence advocates and their law enforcement allies to consider new approaches to partnership and problem-solving.
Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Improving Practice (CPO Guide)
NCJFCJ's Family Violence Department, in partnership with OVW, developed Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Improving Practice (CPO Guide) as a tool designed to support the work of professional dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of the civil protection order process. It provides guidance for advocates, attorneys, judges, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors to help ensure that protection orders are effectively issued, served, and enforced across the country.
Community Corrections Response To Domestic Violence: Guidelines For Practice (PDF)
"This document provides a series of guidelines for community corrections professionals that support a proactive community supervision approach for domestic violence cases. It pulls together in one place for community corrections professionals and allied justice system and community-based services the conceptual information and practical tools to develop or enhance effective programs."
Community Policing and Domestic Violence: Five Promising Practices (PDF)
This document provides a background and history of community policing and outlines promising practices in the area of collaboration between police and communities. Case studies from Chicago, Marin County, Duluth, and London are also presented.
Community Policing to Prevent Violence Against Women
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.
Community-Based Analysis of the U.S. Legal System's Intervention in Domestic Abuse Cases Involving Indigenous Women (PDF)
"This is a report about institutional processes within the U.S. legal system and their impact on the lives of Indigenous women who are battered."
Creative Civil Remedies Against Non-Indian Offenders in Indian Country (PDF)
"This report explores ways in which tribes can work within current jurisdictional limitations to impose significant, meaningful, and effective deterrents and consequences for non-Indian offenders."
Criminal Prosecution of Battered Native Women for Failure to Protect
This document provides an overview of the criminal prosecution of battered native women for failure to protect and the impact of laws and policies.
Discussion Paper on IACPʹs Policy on Domestic Violence by Police Officers: A product of the IACP Police Response to Violence Against Women Project
"This paper supports the policy on Domestic Violence by Police Officers established by the IACP and conveys the philosophy and development of the policy along with implementation requirements."
DNA Evidence: Enhancing Law Enforcement’s Impact From Crime Scene to Courtroom and Beyond (PDF)
"This report attempts to capture the issues and concerns identified and the recommendations related to crime victims, DNA evidence, and the criminal justice system that emerged from the sharing of so many varied perspectives."
Do Batterer Program Length or Approach Affect Completion or Re-Arrest Rates? (PDF)
This study compared outcomes between defendants sentenced to two batterer programs in Brooklyn, New York. A literature review on batterer programs is presented followed by the research methodology. The findings suggest that neither underlying program philosophy nor program length alone predict either program completion or future violence.
Domestic Violence by Police Officers: A Policy of the IACP Police Response to Violence Against Women Project (PDF)
This document provides information on policies to "establish procedures for handling acts of domestic violence committed by police officers and for implementing prevention strategies."
Domestic Violence Civil Protection Orders (CPOs) By State (PDF)
A chart that lists domestic violence civil protection orders (CPOs) by state.
Domestic Violence Handbook and Training Guide for Patrol Deputies (PDF)
"This handbook was written for deputies in the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office as a guide to the implementation of new domestic violence policies. The new policies were the result of a Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit conducted in 1998 by a team of criminal justice practitioners, staff from all levels of the Sheriff’s Office, and several domestic violence experts from local advocacy programs. The audit team conducted a comprehensive process of inquiry to examine how the domestic violence case management practices in St. Louis County, Minnesota, furthered two important goals: keeping the victim safe, and establishing state control over the offender to deter further violence."
Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit: Findings and Recommendations for Prosecution and Probation Responses in Bellingham-Whatcom County (PDF)
This safety audit explored how prosecution and probation respond to the complexities and risk for safety for all victims of domestic violence in the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. The report identified gaps between what victims experience and need and what the institutions provide. Findings and recommendations for closing the gaps are provided.
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Stalking Prevention and Intervention in Rural Native American Communities: Training, Research and Education Programs
A comprehensive training manual for rural Native American communities addressing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking through training, research and educational programming. Note: This document provides a general overview. When developing a plan for your community, look to your own tribal codes and state and federal laws concerning confidentiality and explore methods which can be used in the civil or criminal justice arenas which would enhance victim safety.
El Crimen de la Trata Humana (PDF)
"This guidebook, translated into Spanish, is intended to offer knowledge and tools to investigate human trafficking safely and effectively."
El Paso County, Colorado Institutional Safety and Accountability Audit Report: A Project of the El Paso County Greenbook Project (PDF)
This report explores adult/child victim safety and offender accountability efforts in the criminal justice response. The goal of this audit was to strategize ways to improve the safety and well being of adult/child victims, enhance offender accountability, and create a system of accountability for the agencies that respond to domestic violence.
Enforcing Domestic Violence Firearm Prohibitions: A Report on Promising Practices (PDF)
"This report highlights promising practices currently employed around the United States and in tribal jurisdictions that represent innovative approaches to enforcing domestic violence firearm prohibitions. It provides brief descriptions of programs that are located primarily in law enforcement agencies, prosecutors’ offices, courts, and probation departments."
Ensuring Forensic Medical Exams for All Sexual Assault Victims: A Toolkit for States and Territories
This "toolkit is designed to help states and territories address compliance with federal statute to ensure that victims of sexual assault can get a forensic medical exam free of charge or with full reimbursement regardless of whether they report the crime to police or otherwise cooperate with the criminal justice system."
Federal Interstate Stalking Law
Provides definitions and interpretations of the Federal Interstate Stalking Law.
Female Officers as Victims of Police-Perpetrated Domestic Violence (PDF)
"The purpose of this article is to increase advocates' knowledge of how the expectations and values of the female officer's profession and workplace culture influence her behavior and decisions regarding her abusive relationship. The article discusses some of the ways police culture can contribute to the isolation of its female members and condition them to tolerate and even accept men's disrespect, negative attitudes, and potentially, domestic abuse."
Final Report: Focus Group on Public Law 280 and the Sexual Assault of Native Women (PDF)
This is the final report from the "focus group on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Green Bay, Wisconsin that discussed challenges to, and opportunities for, collaboration between states and tribes in Public Law 280 jurisdictions to address sexual assault in Indian country."
Full Faith and Credit Enabling Legislation and Registry Information
The following document provides information about individual states' laws and policies regarding restraining orders, the registration thereof and reciprocity between states. Registry information is also provided for the District of Columbia.
Full Faith and Credit Implementation: Challenges and Solutions
This chapter identifies some of the stumbling blocks to implementation of full faith and credit, including xenophobia, reluctance to change, and procedure-driven traditions of law enforcement. It offers an outline for a problem-solving approach.
Human Trafficking: Three Part Roll-Call Training Video
The Three Part Roll-Call Training Video was designed for law enforcement focusing on the following human trafficking information : Defining the Crime, Identifying and Responding, and Investigating and Interviewing. A discussion guide is included which is designed to reinforce key information contained in the roll call training video and assist officers in applying this knowledge to their local community. To increase the impact of this video, please use in conjunction with the IACP guidebook, The Crime of Human Trafficking: A Law Enforcement Guide to Identification and Investigation.
IACP Guidelines to Address Police Officers Under Orders of Protection
This document provides provisions on how to address the issue of police officers under orders of protection.
Investigating Sexual Assaults: Concepts and Issues Paper (PDF)
This paper was developed to accompany the Model Policy on Investigating Sexual Assaults developed by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center. The paper provides essential background material and supporting documentation to provide a greater understanding of the developmental philosophy and implementation required for the model policy. It also addresses field investigative procedures and best practices for working with victims of criminal sexual violence.1 This material is designed to assist law enforcement executives in tailoring the model policy to the requirements and circumstances of their own communities and agencies.
Judicial Oversight Demonstration Initiative
Provides an overview of the Judicial Oversight Demonstration Initiative and a summary of each of its three demonstration sites.
La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit Phase 2: Post-Arrest through Prosecution, Findings and Recommendations, 2007 (PDF)
"The La Crosse County Safety Audit explored how post-arrest and prosecution responses to domestic violence cases in La Crosse County enhance or diminish victim safety and batterer accountability. This report sums up the audit and identifies gaps to address in the ongoing intervention in domestic violence in La Crosse County. Findings and recommendations are also provided."
La Violencia Sexual En Contra de Trabajadores Agricolas: Un Manual Para Los Profesionales En Justicia Criminal (PDF)
El objetivo de este manual es aumentar el conocimiento y habilidades de los profesionales en la justicia criminal para que puedan servir mejor a los campesinos quienes han experimentado violencia sexual. Este manual provee explicaciones útiles sobre la vida y trabajo de los campesinos, así como asuntos únicos que impactan los servicios que usted provee. Cada sección presenta un tema definido, y termina con preguntas diseñadas para comprometerlo a asistir mejor a las víctimas de violencia sexual en su comunidad.
Model Tribal Domestic Violence Full Faith and Credit Ordinance
A sample document of a tribal domestic violence full faith and credit ordinance.
Penalties for Interstate Stalking, Interstate Domestic Violence, Interstate Violation of A Protection Order
Descriptions of statutes and penalties for violations.
Planning and Conducting a Best-Practice Assessment of Community Response to Domestic Violence Criminal Justice System Response: Emergency Communications (911) & Police Patrol (PDF)
This best-practice assessment guide has been designed to assist emergency communications (911), police patrol services, and CCRs in answering such questions. This guide draws on the accumulated experience of many communities, particularly those that have completed a Safety and Accountability Audit (Safety Audit) of 911 and patrol responses over the last fifteen years. It reflects an analysis of criminal justice system reforms related to domestic violence and the sometimes unintended negative consequences of those reforms. It distills that information into specific guidelines for practice in the crucial first steps in the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence–related crimes: 911 calls and the on-scene patrol response.
Planning and Conducting a Best-Practice Assessment of Community Response to Domestic Violence Criminal Justice System Response: Police Follow-up Investigations & Prosecution Charging Decisions (PDF)
This best-practice assessment guide has been designed to assist police investigators, prosecutors, and CCRs. It reflects an analysis of criminal justice system reforms related to domestic violence and the sometimes unintended negative consequences of those reforms. It distills that information into specific guidelines for practice in the crucial follow-up and charging phase following the criminal justice system’s initial response to domestic violence–related crimes.
Police Response to Crimes of Sexual Assault: A Training Curriculum (Second Edition)
This training manual addresses police procedures for responding to sexual assault (specifically in Connecticut) including handling initial response, victim interviews, evidence gathering, and building a case for court. It can be adapted to any state.
Practitioner Perspectives: Deirdre Keys, Stalking Program Coordinator, Battered Woman’s Legal Advocacy Project (PDF)
The Practitioner Perspectives series highlights promising responses to stalking across the United States. The Battered Woman’s Legal Advocacy Project’s Stalking Response Program is a state-wide resource for stalking victims based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stalking Program Coordinator Deirdre Keys directs the program, holding information sessions and training for multidisciplinary audiences, and providing victim services to address the issue of stalking. Formerly at Cornerstone Advocacy Service, the Stalking Response Program recently created a stalking protocol for law enforcement, prosecutors, and direct service providers for the state of Minnesota.
Practitioner Perspectives: Deirdri Fishel, Detective, State College Police Department, Victim Centered Intensive Case Management Unit (PDF)
The Practitioner Perspectives series highlights promising responses to stalking across the United States. Detective Deirdri Fishel serves as the primary investigator and case manager for the State College Police Department’s Victim Centered Intensive Case Management (VCICM) Unit. The VCICM Unit is responsible for investigating, coordinating, prosecuting, and responding to domestic violence and stalking in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Progress Report on Full Faith and Credit Enabling Legislation: 2000
Although the full faith and credit provision of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) explicitly directs states, union territories, and Indian tribes to enforce protection orders issued by sister states, territories, and tribes, it does not prescribe any specific enforcement procedures but instructs them to establish their own. This chapter provides a comprehensive view of the impact of the provision upon various jurisdictions.
Prosecutor Sexual Assault Protocol
"This guide focuses on the development of an internal protocol for use by tribal prosecutors."
Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence: A Law Enforcement Officer's Guide to Enforcing Orders of Protection
This document reviews the full faith and credit component of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. It provides crucial information on orders of protection for law enforcement officers who play a significant role in stopping domestic violence. This project was supported by a Cooperative Agreement awarded by the Violence Against Women Grants Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Responding to Stalking: A Guide for Community Corrections Officers (PDF)
"This guide provides an overview of stalking and suggestions on how to supervise probationers and parolees who engage in stalking behavior."
Reviewing Domestic Violence Fatalities: Summarizing National Developments
This document brings together information on domestic violence fatality reviews from across the country. It defines domestic violence, provides a state-by-state matrix of domestic violence death review initiatives, introduces teams' philosophies and the purposes and goals of teams, addresses team membership, explores death review team protocols, confronts concerns regarding confidentiality, liability, and immunity, offers a selection of investigative methods already used by teams as they conduct death reviews, and talks about the issue of effecting change through the process of reviewing domestic fatalities.
Sexual Assault Civil Protection Orders by State (PDF)
A chart that lists sexual assault civil protection orders (CPOs) by state.
Sexual Assault Incident Reports: Investigative Strategies
This document provides guidelines and strategies that are based upon national best practices regarding sexual assault incident investigations and support for officers and departments in preparing sexual assault cases for successful prosecution through detailed case documentation and thorough investigations.
Sexual Violence Against Farmworkers: A Guidebook for Criminal Justice Professionals (PDF)
The goal of this guidebook is to increase the knowledge and skills of criminal justice professionals so that you can better serve farmworkers who have experienced sexual violence. It provides helpful explanations about the life and work of farmworkers as well as unique issues that may impact the services you provide. Each section presents a distinct topic, concluding with questions designed to engage you in better assisting farmworker victims of sexual violence in your community.
STRATEGIES In Brief Issue #3: Supreme Court Clarifies Miranda (PDF)
On February 24, 2010, the United States Supreme Court decided Maryland v. Shatzer, 559 U.S.___(2010), in which it reinstated a defendant's child sexual abuse conviction and announced a new rule that permits the police to resume questioning of suspects who invoke their rights to remain silent after 14 days pass after they are released from police custody. This in-brief provides information on facts and holding related to the courts opinion.
STRATEGIES In Brief Issue #4: Miranda Under the Microscope Again (PDF)
On June 1, 2010, the United States Supreme Court rendered its opinion in Berghuis, Warden v. Thompkins, 560 U.S.___(2010), a case involving an individual's waiver of his right to remain silent pursuant to Miranda v Arizona. The Court held that after properly administering the Miranda warning, police did not need an express or implied waiver of rights before they interrogated the suspect and that the suspect in this case failed to clearly invoke his right to remain silent by simply remaining mostly silent during the interrogation. This In-Brief covers facts, the decision, and the impact of the courts opinion.
Successfully Investigating Acquaintance Sexual Assault: A National Training Manual for Law Enforcement
This curriculum focuses on the investigation of nonstranger sexual assaults and emphasizes investigative tools and techniques for cases in which a consent, rather than identity, defense is raised. These training materials include 12 content modules, 12 trainer's curriculum units, classroom overheads, and supplemental materials that include sample affidavits and search warrants.
The Crime of Human Trafficking: A Law Enforcement Guide to Identification and Investigation (PDF)
This guidebook is intended to offer knowledge and tools to for law enforcement to investigate human trafficking safely and effectively. It includes information on federal law, tools for identification, investigation and response, and resources for victim assistance. The guidebook, which also has a pocket guide for field reference, is available in bulk, free of charge for law enforcement agencies. This guidebook can be used in conjuncture with IACP's Three Part Roll-Call Training Video's on human trafficking.
The Full Faith and Credit Project
An overview of the Full Faith and Credit Project, including their history, mission, and plans for the future. Updated June 2000.
Toolkit to End Violence Against Women (PDF)
To provide concrete guidance to communities, policy leaders, and individuals engaged in activities to end violence against women developed the Toolkit To End Violence Against Women. The recommendations contained in the Toolkit were reviewed by numerous experts in the fields of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. Each Toolkit chapter focuses on a particular audience or environment and includes recommendations for strengthening prevention efforts and improving services and advocacy for victims.
Undue Influence: The Criminal Justice Response - Participant Materials (PDF)
This is the participant materials for the Undue Influence training for law enforcement officers.
Undue Influence: The Criminal Justice Response - Power Point (PDF)
This is the power point presentation for the Undue Influence training for law enforcement officers.
Undue Influence: The Criminal Justice Response - Trainer Materials (PDF)
This is a training curriculum that can be used "to explore the parallels between UI and domestic violence, stalking, and grooming so that law enforcement officers can better understand the dynamics of some financial exploitation cases and implement effective investigative strategies."
Vermont's Model Protocol: Law Enforcement Response to Children at the Scene of a Domestic Violence Incident (PDF)
"The intent of this protocol is to assist law enforcement officers in their response to children at the scene of domestic violence incidents. In addition, the protocol outlines an effective response which includes: assessing whether children have been physically harmed, minimizing the impact and repercussions to children who are present, empowering children as much as possible in the process, maintaining victim safety, and maintaining batterer accountability."
Victim-Defendants: An Emerging Challenge in Responding to Domestic Violence in Seattle and the King County Region
This report contains information for practitioners and policy-makers in criminal justice and community-based agencies who share the goal of ensuring safety, justice, and support for domestic violence survivors who commit domestic violence-related crimes. The authors welcome feedback from readers on whether they know of programs specifically for DV survivors who have been arrested and charged with DV-related crimes. This information would be added to an updated report. Feedback can be sent to info@kccadv.org.
When the Batterer is a Law Enforcement Officer: A Guide for Advocates (PDF)
"This manual is intended for advocates who work with victims whose abusers are members of law enforcement. It explores the reasons why familiar remedies are often inadequate against an officer batterer's power and control over the victim and his influence within the criminal justice system. It challenges us to find alternatives, and to hold both police officer batterers and policing accountable for violence against women and their children."
Working Effectively with the Police: A Guide for Battered Women's Advocates
Revised August 2001. Battered women's advocates and police departments in several jurisdictions have been successful in developing a more effective police response to domestic assault cases. This article highlights information advocates need in order to work collaboratively and effectively with police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The author discusses the changes police officers have made regarding when and how they arrest, investigate, write reports, and how they work with and support prosecutors and victim advocates.