Domestic Violence—The Prosecution In the Line of Duty, Volume 13

Officer's Role in Fighting Domestic Violence (01:22)
Your thoroughness in collecting evidence and writing reports is crucial to prosecution of domestic violence, and in taking the pressure off victims.

Thorough Documentation (02:09)
Some officers use portable microphones, or take domestic violence victims into patrol cars and run tapes. Do your job, even in "obvious" cases; often, batterers want to talk.

Credibility of Excited Utterances (01:47)
Carefully record "excited utterances" of domestic violence victims, made under influence of stress. This evidence is an exception to the hearsay rule. Even if the victim does not testify, excited utterances can bring convictions.

Photographic and Medical Evidence (01:41)
Get statements from medical personnel in domestic violence situations, along with photographs of injuries. Take follow-up pictures.

Victims May Not Cooperate (02:06)
Assume the victim will not cooperate, and try to make a case strong enough that victim's testimony is not necessary. Victims of domestic violence fear for their safety and may need this help.

Need for Careful Observation (01:14)
In one instance, a badly injured man reported that his girlfriend had assaulted him. An officer perceived that she had been strangled, however; his injuries came when she fought him off.

Take Domestic Violence Calls Seriously (01:30)
What a victim understands as a stalker's veiled threat may seem innocuous from the outside. Police sometimes are dangerously complacent.

Know Domestic Violence Laws (02:23)
Know the law so you can determine which laws a domestic abuser is breaking. States and jurisdictions take different approaches to arrest in domestic violence cases.

Protecting the Domestic Violence Victim (04:11)
Police can call in victims' advocates to provide needed support. Officers should communicate with victims about the perpetrator's bail or restraining order status, and about where they can find shelter.

Questions (01:52)
We consider discussion questions about the material we have seen on handling domestic violence cases.

Domestic Violence Statistics (01:03)
We learn some statistics on domestic violence. An officer reminds us not to be complacent about a couple that is constantly quarreling- any call could be deadly.

Armed Robbery Footage (04:22)
Responding to a 911 hangup, a police trainee checks a 7-11. An armed robber quietly finishes his business and leaves. We consider whether the trainee could have noticed anything.

Amusing Footage (02:20)
An officer making a traffic stop on a car pulled over in a driveway carries out his task despite a cat climbing all over him.

Credits: Domestic Violence- The Prosecution: In the Line of Duty, Volume 13 (00:44)
Credits: Domestic Violence- The Prosecution: In the Line of Duty, Volume 13