Domestic Violence

We help courts and communities respond creatively and effectively to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.

Watch our video to learn how courts in Rockford, Ill., respond to domestic violence.

Combining lessons learned at the local level with the latest research, our experts provide community-led, data-driven support to jurisdictions across the country looking to enhance their responses to domestic violence. With support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, our experts offer training and hands-on assistance that rejects any one-size-fits-all frameworks. Our work focuses on victim safety and covers civil and criminal justice system responses to domestic violence from initial needs assessments to implementation, evaluation, and ongoing training.

We provide free individualized training and support to courts and communities on a range of topics:

informed-decision making
holistic victim services
offender accountability and engagement
reducing bias and increasing access
engaging the court
learning-based training and practical application

To hear more from us, join our email list. We’ll let you know when we have an upcoming training, webinar, or new resource.

Judge H. Lee Chitwood and Court Coordinator Jaime Clemmer discuss the innovative strategies they use for domestic violence cases in their rural Virginia county.

Initiatives

Access to Justice in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases

Improving access to the courts for victims of domestic violence and those accused of harm enhances safety and accountability and ensures a more just and effective system.
Assessing Risk and Working with Abusive Partners

We use research and the experience of practitioners to help communities hold offenders accountable, assess risk, and engage them in a process of change.
Domestic Violence Court

A pioneer in the creation of specialized domestic violence courts, the Center works to rethink and improve court responses to intimate partner violence.
Domestic Violence Mentor Courts

These specialized courts serve as resources for courts across the country by facilitating peer-to-peer learning and providing examples of effective practices.
Domestic Violence Training and Curriculum Development

We help train judges and court staff with domestic violence workshops that target a community's specific needs and provide concrete tools to improve daily practice.
Enhancing Family Court Responses to Domestic Violence

We help courts grapple with the issues surrounding child custody and visitation for families experiencing domestic violence.
Judicial Engagement Network

Engaging judges and fostering judicial leadership is key to enhancing system-wide responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.
Justice for Families

Justice for Families supports communities in developing and implementing projects to address domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.

Publications & Digital Media

Audio
Project SAFE Podcast: Dr. Monique Morris and Andrea C. James Discuss Collaborating with Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence

by Afua Addo

In this podcast, which was produced as part of Project SAFE, Afua Addo is joined by Dr. Monique Morris, the co-founder and president of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, and Andrea C. James, the founder and executive director of the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls.

Addressing Racial Disparities, Domestic Violence, Justice-Involved Women, Reducing Trauma
Publication
Navigating Transitions in Judicial Leadership: Guidance for Domestic Violence Courts

Having a strong judicial leader can make or break a specialized domestic violence court. A judge can marshal resources and rally community and stakeholder partners to achieve shared goals. So what happens to specialized domestic violence courts when that integral judge transitions to a new position or retires? Use this fact sheet to ensure your court has a plan in place for a smooth and successful transition.

Domestic Violence
Audio
Leading by Doing: Innovations in Addressing Domestic Violence in Rural Virginia

by Robert V. Wolf

Just because smaller communities generally have fewer resources doesn’t mean they aren’t innovating or taking new approaches that others can learn from and emulate. In Pulaski County, Virginia, home to about 35,000 people, Judge H. Lee Chitwood and Court Coordinator Jaime Clemmer have implemented a number of changes to better address domestic violence.

Domestic Violence, Procedural Justice

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News

Courts Fail Sex Trafficking Victims

January 19, 2018
Crime Report

Understanding trauma, exploitation, and criminalization: an introduction to our work with justice-involved Black women and the role of human trafficking courts.
Officials aim to create better connectivity in fight against domestic violence

October 21, 2017
Star Beacon

A report on a workshop run by our experts in Ashtabula, Ohio to enhance the response from the county's justice system to domestic violence.

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