Dialogues are two essays based on our many conversations and debates about officer-involved domestic violence. We realized that the tremendous power and authority granted officers to protect the public can lead to abuse of this power. We also found that solutions good from the department’s perspective can make things worse for the victim; and victim-centered solutions can expose depatments to liability.Our goal is to stimulate discussion among victim advocates and police administrators about the issues surrounding policy development and safe victim response.
Victim advocates want police departments to hold abusive officers accountable — but not at the expense of the victim. Police administrators also want to protect victims — but not at the expense of exposing the department to liability or of depriving officers of their rights to due process.
Because this issue is so complex and ambiguous, police administrators and advocates experience naturally conflict and frustration. We think it's essential to acknowledge from the outset that law enforcement and advocates have different perspectives, priorities and goals. Read an excerpt...
Our society gives law enforcement tremendous power to enable them to keep the peace and preserve social order. We expect them to use discretion regarding which laws to enforce, when and against whom. Such discretion can lead to the abuse of power. Some police officers come to see themselves not as simply enforcers of the law, but as the law itself.
Our work with OIDV victims has shown that standard remedies are often inadequate and may even leave a victim more vulnerable. Advocates and police administrators must rethink strategies on many levels. We need to educate ourselves and other community providers before we can hope to adequately serve our citizens. Read an excerpt...
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Advocate guide: When batterer is in law enforcement 
