NCJ Number
169177
Date Published
Unknown
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This profile of the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department (Tennessee) Domestic Violence Division provides an overview of the Division, the departmental domestic violence policy, and the personalized safety plan.
Abstract
To address the problem of domestic homicide, domestic elder and child abuse, domestic hostage incidents, and crimes related to family violence, the department created the Domestic Violence Division in August of 1994. Currently, it is the largest single investigative unit in the United States that deals with crime within the family. From existing resources the department shifted 35 volunteer personnel to investigate and prosecute these cases to prevent future violence and murder. The division's goal is to stop violent behavior by coordinating the response to family violence incidents with police officers, prosecutors, and judges. The intent of the division is to offer an even application of equal protection of the law to all victims of family violence by administering quality investigations, victim and suspect assessment, counseling and assistance, safety planning, enhanced prosecution, and police and public education. There has been a 52-percent reduction in the number of domestic murders in the past 2 years. Departmental procedure for domestic violence cases is included, along with the form used in the development of a personalized safety plan for domestic violence victims.