Domesitc Violence And Law Enforcement: Chapter Summaries
Chapter DVD start times are in parenthesis.
Duluth, MN: Where It Began (0.00)
Introduce Lt. Scott Jenkins, Duluth, MN PD. Jenkins discusses the nature of domestic cases, and how the Duluth Model evolved in his years in the department. When he started, the approach was “separation and mediation.” His tendency was to blame the victim.
Michael Paymar and Ellen Pence, founders of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth in the early 1980s, talk about how they initiated Duluth’s mandatory arrest policy, which has now become a national standard.
Duluth police officers talk about the policies and procedures in effect today. We see an officer responding to an actual call.
“The stakes are so high. If we make the wrong decision it could adversely impact the safety of a woman and her children for years,” Jenkins says.
Baltimore: A Centralized Approach (7:28)
In Baltimore, much of the domestic violence police work has been centralized in the Family Crimes Unit, a detective squad that handles investigations, follow up and, when possible, crime scene response. We interview two detectives from the unit, and Lt. Vernell Shaheed, head of the unit.
Shaheed emphasizes that the unit focuses on developing strong cases that can lead to convictions, even in situations where victims are not prepared to testify in court.
We see the two detectives on a home visit with a victim who is being intimidated by her abuser and the abuser’s family.
The Bronx: In the Nation’s Busiest Precinct (11.11)
A look inside the 46th Precinct.
Interview with Dep. Chief Kathy Ryan, who heads up the NYPD domestic violence units, which have a total of 300 officers. 25% of felony assaults are attributable to DV, and the city has over 1.8 million orders of protection in its online system.
Officers in the 46th precinct assemble for a roll call training.
A DV advocate who works from the precinct discuss her role there.
Interview two officers from the 46th.
Duluth: The Next Steps 17:26
Continuing the interview with Lt. Jenkins.
Officers responding to a DV call.
Jenkins emphasizes the value of teaching philosophical and ideological issues to police officers. “I’ve had a part, just by virtue of my gender, in perpetuating violence against women.”
EXTRA FEATURES
Interviews and their length in minutes in parenthesis.
Lt. Scott Jenkins, Duluth PD (4:12)
Jenkins discusses the role of the police officer responding to a domestic violence call. Key is to understand that the officer is getting information that will be used by other agencies that follow up after the initial incident. Also key to recognize that the victims of abuse are the most at risk in the situation.
Lt. Vernell Shaheed, Baltimore, MD (4:30)
Unit’s priority is to get jail time, even when victims recant or change their minds. The unit seeks to obtain evidence that was not gathered when calls were handled only by patrol.
Emphasis on videotaped statements and other ways to build up a case. Detectives receive training on how to work with victims, partly in an effort to increase prosecution.
Dep. Chief Kathy Ryan, NYPD (1:11)
Ryan describes the NYPD’s domestic violence police organization.
