Domestic Violence: an Inconsistent Priority for Law Enforcement

Some law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County fail to use innovative domestic violence intervention best practices. These evidence-based practices demonstrate measurable results that have a positive impact on victims, families, law enforcement, and the community. These practices include: • Leadership at the executive level that prioritizes domestic violence • Countywide Domestic Violence Response Teams (DVRT) and active partnerships with domestic violence victim advocates • Specialized domestic violence training for patrol officers, first responders, and domestic violence investigators • Use of a field-based lethality risk assessment tool by patrol officers and first responders • Data collection and tracking system

Not all law enforcement departments in Sacramento County participate in active partnerships among police, prosecutors, victim advocates, social service agencies, and community organizations to reduce the incidence of domestic violence.

Coordinated and accessible domestic violence services for victims and their families have been proven to be most effective.

The comprehensive and coordinated approaches to domestic violence found at both Citrus Heights Police Department and Elk Grove Police Department are model programs that protect victims and create safer communities. 46