Evaluation of officer-involved domestic violence policy and implementation

New York State does not currently have a mandatory statewide policy for Officer-Involved Domestic Violence (OIDV). A strong domestic violence policy holds all domestic violence offenders accountable for their abusive behaviors, while prioritizing the safety and rights of all domestic violence victims, regardless of profession, place of employment, or specialized training of either party. The lack of a mandatory statewide OIDV policy may not only reduce the community’s trust in law enforcement, but it can also decrease the integrity of the profession—both of which can decrease police productivity and jeopardize public safety. The Capstone team was tasked with surveying police departments across New York State to determine if any policies have been implemented on a department level, and to what degree, while simultaneously researching OIDV policy implementation nationwide. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence hopes to use these findings to improve policy implementation, while ultimately influencing statewide policy changes on the matter.