Definitions

Domestic Violence

Conduct that involves the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force, sexual violence, coercion, or other harm against a current or former spouse, intimate partner, family member, or household member. Specific definitions vary by state.

Primary Aggressor

The person determined by the responding officer to be the predominant cause of the domestic incident, considering totality of evidence — not the person who 'struck first.'

Lethality Assessment

Structured risk screen used to identify victims at heightened risk of homicide, often connecting them to specialized services.

Purpose

To ensure consistent, evidence-based response to domestic violence — investigating thoroughly, identifying the primary aggressor accurately, supporting victim safety, and removing firearms where authorized.

Scope

Applies to all sworn members responding to domestic, intimate partner, family, or household-related incidents.

Initial Response

1. Two officers respond when feasible; coordinate approach to ensure safety.
2. Separate the parties immediately upon scene entry — different rooms or outside.
3. Identify children present and ensure their safety.
4. Assess for medical needs; summon EMS if any injury or complaint of injury.
5. Identify and secure firearms and other weapons.
6. Conduct a complete scene assessment — photograph injuries, scene damage, evidence.

Interviewing

• Interview the parties separately, out of earshot of each other and of children.
• Use trauma-informed techniques — let the person speak; do not interrupt; use empathic language.
• Document statements verbatim where possible, including specific descriptions of force, threats, and history.
• Ask about prior incidents.
• Interview children only as necessary and at a developmentally appropriate level; coordinate with child welfare for forensic interview as appropriate.

Primary Aggressor Determination

Officers identify the primary aggressor based on totality of evidence. Avoid mutual arrests where the evidence supports identification of one party as the primary aggressor.

• History of prior domestic violence (per agency records and statements).
• Comparative injuries — nature and severity.
• Defensive vs. offensive injuries.
• Size, strength, and apparent relative power.
• Statements of witnesses and children.
• Fearfulness exhibited by either party.
• Whether one party's actions were in self-defense.
• Evidence of strangulation, controlling behavior, or fear of escalation.

Strangulation

• Strangulation is a high-lethality predictor — a strangled victim is many times more likely to be killed by the same partner in the future.
• Photograph the neck even if no visible injury — injury may appear hours later.
• Specifically ask about loss of consciousness, urination, incontinence, voice change, swallowing difficulty.
• Strongly recommend medical evaluation; strangulation can cause delayed serious injury.
• Document specifically; treat as a serious felony per state law.

Firearm Removal

• Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) and (g)(9)) prohibits firearm possession by persons subject to certain qualifying domestic-violence protection orders and persons convicted of qualifying misdemeanors.
• State law often provides additional authority — including ex parte orders and red flag laws — to remove firearms in domestic situations.
• Officers identify firearms at the scene and, where authorized by law, remove or document them per agency Evidence Handling policy.
• Officers advise parties of firearm-related legal restrictions following an arrest or protection order.
• Returns occur per state law and supervisory review.

Protection Orders

• Officers verify and serve protection orders.
• Violations are arrestable per state law.
• Officers provide written information about emergency protection orders, victim advocates, and shelter resources.
• Multiple-jurisdictional orders are honored under the federal full faith and credit provisions.

Lethality Assessment

• Officers complete a standardized lethality assessment (e.g., Maryland Lethality Assessment Program / MLAP) with adult victims.
• Victims screening as high risk are connected immediately by phone to a domestic-violence advocate.
• Officers do not screen in the presence of the alleged abuser.

Children

• Witnessing domestic violence is itself a form of trauma.
• Officers report child welfare concerns per the Mandatory Reporting policy.
• Officers coordinate with child welfare on safety plans.
• Children are not used as translators for adult parties.

Victim Services

• Officers provide written referral information for advocates, shelter, legal aid, mental health.
• Follow-up contact within 48 hours by a designated officer or advocate where the program exists.
• Officers do not require the victim to make charging decisions on scene; investigation and charging proceed on the strength of evidence.

Documentation

• Complete incident report including primary aggressor analysis.
• Photographs of injuries, scene damage, weapons.
• Statements of all parties, witnesses, children where appropriate.
• Lethality assessment results.
• Firearm-related actions.
• Referrals provided.
• BWC and other recording identifiers.

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Supervisor responds to scenes involving injury, firearm, or arrest where feasible.
• Reviews primary aggressor determination.
• Coordinates with detectives for follow-up investigation.
• Ensures lethality assessment connections occurred.

Training

• Initial DV training at academy and onboarding.
• Annual refresher with case-based scenarios.
• Specialized training in lethality assessment, strangulation, trauma-informed interviewing.
• Joint training with advocates, prosecutors, and shelter staff.
• Cultural competency for diverse communities (LGBTQ+, immigrant, indigenous, elder).

Accountability

• Aggregate review of DV cases by command and DV advocates annually.
• Identification of process gaps.
• Officer involvement in DV-related misconduct subject to accelerated discipline.

References

• IACP Model Policy on Domestic Violenceiacp.org
• Family Violence Prevention Fund / Futures Without Violencefutureswithoutviolence.org
• Maryland Lethality Assessment Programlethalityassessmentprogram.org
• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), (g)(9)Federal firearm restrictions
• State DV Statute[INSERT STATE]

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

• DRAFT — Requires legal review and SME sign-off before publication or adoption.
• Reconcile firearm removal procedures with state law.
• Identify regional advocate, shelter, and legal aid partners.
• Include state-specific protection order and red flag procedures.
• Cross-reference Use of Force, Mandatory Reporting, Evidence Handling, and Crisis Intervention policies.