Domestic Violence
When officers come to the scene of domestic violence incidents, they are vigilant for a number of reasons. These scenes are heightened with emotional response, and these scenes are frequently unpredictable. My former department had a policy that the officers went to these cases in 2’s, they also were directed to remain within view of each other. Besides the dangerous nature of these cases, officers face a burdensome time with prosecuting offenders. Victims of IPV may frequently wish to drop charges or fail to cooperate with the prosecution. In many states, the lack of victim participation does not stop the case from going forward in the district attorney finds that enough probable cause exists to continue prosecution. In some circumstances, the district attorney may drop the case at the behest of the victim. IN either sense, these cases are burdensome of the court because the myriad of situations need individualized examination.
When looking at the factors I mentioned above (and those in the text), what are the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory arrest policies? How do they help the victim? What evidence do officers consider when determining how to handle domestic violence cases?
I will note that the victim may go through cycles of abuse with the offender. There may be many times officers see the same families before the victim can find their way out.
Include the following aspects in the discussion:
- Identify how mandatory arrest policies for IPV affect victimization
- What elements must be present to prove the “body of crime” for IPV cases?
- Explain the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory arrest policies for IPV
Must be 75-150 words
