NCJ Number
176222
Date Published
1998
Length
52 pages
Annotation
Michigan created a Model Policy Committee to address concerns about how law enforcement can further improve its response to domestic violence.
Abstract
The resulting model policy consists of 15 sections that meet specific requirements of the law mandating each police agency to develop and publish a domestic violence response policy. The foundation of the model policy is the provision that police officers should arrest the domestic violence assailant whenever arrest is authorized. The model policy also stipulates police administrators can apply more stringent requirements for their own agencies. Specific goals of the model policy are to establish arrest as the preferred response to domestic violence, hold assailants accountable, protect victims, reduce domestic homicides and assaults, reduce police callbacks, reduce police officer injuries, and reduce liability risks for police departments. Following the introductory section of the model policy, subsequent sections deal with response and investigation, probable cause, arrest, enforcement of personal protection orders, enforcement of conditional release orders, notice of victim rights, policy if no arrest can be made, report writing, bonding policy, victim assistance, supervision, training, evaluation and data collection, and mandated written domestic violence response policy.