AccessingSafety.org

The Office of Violence Against Women and the Vera Institute of Justice, through its Accessing Safety Initiative (ASI), have created a website specifically addressing the issue of violence against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals. Specific topics include information on domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, disability, Deaf culture, and the intersection of violence against women and disability/Deaf issues.

View Website » http://www.accessingsafety.org/

Advocacy in a Coordinated Community Response

Overview and Highlights of Three Programs

Rose Thelen, Gender Violence Institute, for BWJP

This article gives an overview of advocacy - namely individual advocacy and systems advocacy - and describes them as an integral part of a community response to domestic violence. It also stresses the importance of each type of advocacy working collectively in enabling battered women to overcome obstacles.

View Article » Advocacy_in_a_Coordinated_Community_Response.pdf

At A Crossroads

Developing Duluth's Prosecution Response to Battered Women Who Fight Back

Mary Asmus, Chief Prosecutor, City Attorney's Office, Duluth MN

This monograph tells the story of how city prosecutors, battered women's advocates, and other practitioners in Duluth's criminal justice system came together to address the unique issues presented by domestic violence defendants who are also battered women. This monograph also offers a firsthand looks at how institutional change can happen in the criminal justice system.

View Article » At A Crossroads_part1.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part2.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part3.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part4.pdf

Bellingham-Whatcom Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

Findings and Recommendations for Prosecution and Probation Responses

Safety Audit Coordinator: Sue Parrott, Director, Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence

This audit explored the question: How do prosecution and probation recognize and respond to the complexities of risk and safety for all victims of domestic violence in the City of Bellingham Whatcom Three agencies offered their policies, practices, and case files for review during this audit, as well as contributed members to an audit team: the Bellingham City Prosecutor's Office, the Whatcom County Prosecutor's Office and the Whatcom County District Court Probation. The team's findings are based on information gathered during two community focus groups of battered women and their advocates, 35 individual interviews with a relevant practitioners, 40 observations of court and probations activities, and text analysis of case files from the City and Attorney's offices and District Court Probation.

View Article » Bellingham_Whatcom_Audit_Report.pdf

Bridging Domestic Violence Intervention and Community Policing

Partnership and Problem-Solving Tools

Jane M. Sadusky

In 1999, the Battered Women's Justice Project Criminal Justice Center began working with four communities to explore the application of community policing, with its emphasis on community engagement and problem-solving, to domestic violence. BWJP and its partners set out to analyze and articulate how it might intersect with the core principles of domestic violence organizing: victim safety, offender accountability, and community change. A complete discussion of this undertaking, and a case study for each community, can be found in Community Policing and Domestic Violence: Five Promising Practices, also available at this website. The project produced and used several tools that help link domestic violence intervention and community policing principles. The ideas, concepts, and strategies summarized in the following pages are meant to encourage community-based advocates and their law enforcement allies to consider new approaches to partnership and problem-solving.

View Article » Bridging_DV_Intervention_and_Community_Policing.pdf

Community Policing and Domestic Violence

Five Promising Practices

Jane Sadusky for BWJP

In 1999, the Battered Women's Justice Project Criminal Justice Center began working with four communities to examine how domestic violence intervention could move beyond the limits of the criminal justice system and develop the capacity of diverse communities to engage in active problem-solving. The intent was to explore the application of community policing, with its emphasis on community engagement and problem-solving, to domestic violence. BWJP and its partners set out to analyze and articulate how community policing principles might intersect with the core principles of domestic violence organizing: victim safety, offender accountability, and community change. This article is the summary and analysis of that project.

View Article » Community_Policing_Domestic Violence.pdf

Confidentiality

An Advocate's Guide

Julie Kunce Field, Deb Goelman, Barbara Hart, Rebekah Lee, Sandra Murphy, Kim Tolhurst, and Roberta Valente

Confidentiality and privilege are key to keeping battered women safe and represent the cornerstones of all successful advocacy and shelter programs. This guide is intended to familiarize advocates with a variety of laws, policies, requirements, and best practices on the topic of confidentiality.

View Article » Confidentiality_Advocates_Guide.pdf

Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence

Information on the origin of the Duluth CCR can be found at this website.

View Website » http://www.theduluthmodel.org/duluthmodelonpublic.php

Countering Confusion About the Duluth Model

Michael Paymar and Graham Barnes

In this paper, the authors examine and respond to research and criticism from these three sources and clarify other myths and misinformation about the Duluth Model. Given the difficulty of changing historically entrenched battering behavior, the authors explain why the Duluth Model, in its true form, provides an effective, ethical framework to address battering given scarce resources.

View Article » Countering_Confusion_Duluth_Model.pdf

Crime Victim Compensation

Policy Paper Series

Barbara Hart, Esq., BWJP

This paper examines the context and gives an overview of the Victims of Crime Act; also considers policy implications.

View Article » Crime_Victim_Compensation.pdf

Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs

Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, Duluth MN, is a nonprofit agency that works towards the elimination of violence in the lives of women and their children. DAIP believes that all forms of institutionalized oppression, including racism, classism, heterosexism, and ageism increase the vulnerability of women to individual acts of violence and to institutionalized acts of violence. The agency's mission is to focus its work on eliminating violence against women and to provide trainings and resources towards that end.

View Website » http://www.theduluthmodel.org/

Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Bench Guide

Loretta Frederick (Drafted by the Minnesota Gender Fairness Implementation Committee)

This is a research-based risk assessment bench guide designed by the Minnesota Gender Fairness in the Courts Implementation Committee for use by judges, although it has not been formally implemented statewide nor adopted by the Supreme Court. It is intended for use in criminal cases (for setting bail, conditions of pre-trial release, sentencing), protection orders, and family court cases.

View Article » DV_Risk_Assessment_Bench_Guide.pdf

Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audits

For information and contacts on conducting a Safety Audit in your community, visit Praxis International's website.

View Website » http://www.praxisinternational.org/

El Paso County, Colorado Institutional Safety and Accountability Audit Report

A Project of the El Paso County Greenbook Project

Contributors: Audit Team Members (see Acknowledgements);Audit Coordinator Lisa Tessarowicz; Project Director Amber Ptak, and BWJP Consultant Rhonda Martinson

A multi-disciplinary team in El Paso County, Colorado mapped their domestic violence prosecution system, conducted focus groups of battered women, interviewed numerous practitioners, observed domestic violence court appearances and reviewed prosecution files to determine what information/factors influence prosecutorial decision-making and case disposition in misdemeanor domestic violence cases, as they related to adult/child victim safety and offender accountability. Four themes in victim safety and offender accountability were discovered; These themes and recommendations to address them are set forth in this report.

View Article » ElPaso_County_Audit_Report.pdf
View Article » ElPaso_DataChart1.pdf
View Article » ElPaso_DataChart2.pdf

Intimate and Caregiver Violence Against Women with Disabilities

Patricia E. Erwin

At the intersection of disability and domestic violence is a population of women that has been rendered invisible by a lack of services in the battered women's movement and a lack of recognition of violence in their lives by disability services providers.

View Article » Intimate_Caregiver_Violence_against_Women_with_Disabilities.pdf

La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit

Phase 2: Post-Arrest through Prosecution, Findings and Recommendations

Produced by the La Crosse County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Audit Team. Primary Contributors: Safety Audit Coordinator Dar Jaeger and Safety Audit Consultant Jane Sadusky

The La Crosse County Safety Audit - Phase 2 explored the following question: How do post-arrest and prosecution responses to domestic violence cases in La Crosse County enhance or diminish victim safety and batterer accountability? The constant focal point of any Safety Audit is the gap between what people experience and need and what institutions provide; its focus is on institutional processes, not individual workers. A trained local team conducted interviews and observations with practitioners who are skilled and well-versed in their jobs. Their knowledge of the institutional response in everyday practice and their first-hand experience with the people whose cases are being processed supplied many of the critical observations and insights of the audit. The team also reviewed case files, policies, and other documents; this report summarizes their findings.

View Article » LaCrosse_Audit_Phase_2_PostArrest_Through_Prosecution.pdf

Minnesota's Standards for Batterer's Programs

A Policy Review and Report on Implementation in Hennepin County

Sarah Myott

This report was created as a result of work conducted by the Battered Women's Justice Project and Hennepin County Community Corrections in order to begin work to implement MN Statute 518B.02, which sets minimum standards for batterers' programs used for court-mandated offenders. This report examines the legislation, including its background and context; reports on work done to implement this legislation in Hennepin County, and discusses ideas for policy change and implementation.

View Article » MN_Standards_for_Batterers_Programs.pdf

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence designs, provides, and customizes training and consultation; influences policy; promotes collaboration; and enhances diversity with the goal of ending domestic violence.

View Website »  http://www.ncdsv.org/

OVW Giles v. California Statement

Cindy Dyer

Office on Violence Against Women official statement on the Giles v. California case. For more information, please see the BWJP amicus.

View Article » OVW_Giles_Statement.pdf

Pretrial Release Conditions in Domestic Violence Cases

Issues and Context

Jane Sadusky

This paper examines the question of pretrial release, conditions in domestic violence cases, focusing on balance between constitutional rights of the accused and protection of victims of crime, between safety and accountability, between ensuring appearance at trial and protecting others from harm, between a consistent response and the unique aspects of each case, each person, and sometimes the balance between space in the jail and the goal of safety.

View Article » Pretrial_Release.pdf

Primary Aggressor Chart

Compiled by Sandra Murphy and MaryKathleen Fenske, 2008

This is a 2008 compilation of all state statutes that use “primary” or “predominant” or “principle” aggressor language. Only the portion of the statute that applies to primary aggressor or mutual or dual arrest is cited in this chart.

View Article » Primary_Aggressor_Chart_Final.pdf

Prosecution Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases

Jackson County, Oregon

Audit Coordinator: Jennifer Maile, Jackson County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Community Works

This audit examined how misdemeanor domestic violence prosecution responds to domestic violence. A team of criminal justice practitioners and battered women's advocates carried it out; team members observed police and probation officer activities, arraignments and sentencing. They interviewed a judge, law enforcement officers, jail staff, a release assistance officer, a clerk of court, prosecutors, a probation officer, a batterer's program provider, court officer, a defense attorney and victim services providers. A consultant and the audit coordinator analyzed 86 files for information available to a prosecutor to make case decisions, and for indicators of how victim safety and offender accountability are built into the job of a prosecutor; the information was compiled in a brief report comparing prosecution practices to current, national best practices in the field of domestic violence prosecution. In addition to this "report card," the report also contains recommendations 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.

View Article » Jackson_OR_Prosecution_Audit_Report.pdf

Reducing Language Barriers To Combating Domestic Violence

The Requirements Of Title VI

Carolyn Ham

In addition to the usual obstacles to leaving a violent relationship, battered immigrant women face a host of additional issues such as fears about being deported, loss of legal immigration status and cultural barriers to leaving their spouses. But perhaps the most daunting barrier can be their inability to speak and read English.

View Article » Reducing_Language_Barriers_to_Combating_Domestic_Violence.pdf

Safety and Accountability Audit Report

Freeborn County, Minnesota

Kristine Lizdas and Rhonda Martinson, BWJP

This is the report from the first phase of the Freeborn County Safety and Accountability Audit. It explores Freeborn County's dispatch and law enforcement response to domestic violence calls.

View Article » Safety_Audit_Freeborn_County_MN.pdf

Strangulation Matrix

Compiled by the National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse in 2007 and the Battered Women's Justice Project in 2008

This chart is a compilation of the strangulation laws in the United States. Updated 2008.

View Article » State_Strangulation_Matrix.pdf

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health is a national technical assistance project designed to cultivate a deeper understanding about the mental health and advocacy needs of survivors of domestic violence and their children and the impact of trauma on individual healing and social change; their website contains numerous resources for professionals and survivors.

View Website » http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/home.php

Violence Against Native Women

A Guide for Practitioner Action

Office on Violence Against Women; National Center on Full Faith and Credit

This paper includes discussion of the theories of Native scholars regarding the sharp rise of the level of violence against Native women, as well as history and demographic information relevant to an overall understanding of the contemporary lives of Native women. This paper also reviews actions taken by the U.S. government and many tribal nations to respond to violence against Native women who have survived domestic or sexual violence.

View Article » Violence_Against_Native_Women.pdf

WATCH

A Minnesota Court Monitoring Program. WATCH's mission is to make the justice system more effective and responsive in handling cases of violence, particularly against women and children, and creating a more informed and involved public.

View Website » http://www.watchmn.org/

Winona County Child Custody Safety and Accountability Audit Report

Local Safety Audit Coordinators: Loretta Frederick, Sr. Legal and Policy Advisor, BWJP and Valerie Williams, Women's Resource Center of Winona, MN

The Winona County Child Custody Safety and Accountability Audit explored the question: How is the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence and their children addressed and promoted in the process of resolving child custody matters in Winona County, MN? This Audit report, the first to address family court child custody cases, consists of key findings and recommendations.

View Article » Winona_Custody_Audit_Report.pdf

Working Effectively with the Police

A Guide for Battered Women's Advocates

Jane Sadusky for BWJP

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.

View Article » Working_Effectively_with_Police.pdf