The police officers may not have the tools to conduct an effective forensic search for evidence if they are not trained in domestic violence case handling. The woman may refuse to give evidence, or press charges, given her conflicted feelings about the situation. And if that occurs, the police may not respond as vigilantly to domestic violence charges at the home in the future, or in general.
Q6: The criteria I would emphasize involves prevention rather than punishment alone. Of course, abusers should be punished according to the dictates of the law. However, prevention involves a multi-pronged strategy that stretches beyond the legal system: raising the sensitivity of the police regarding the tendency of women to resist reporting the crime, expanding access to women's shelters and job training for women seeking to flee domestic violence situations, better enforcement of restraining orders, and awareness-raising and counseling for males who engage in the behavior while they are incarcerated are all essential to reduce the rates of the crime.
Q7: At minimum,...
Even if no charges are brought forth, if a case becomes serious, a pattern of abuse can be established later on, should the incidents continue to occur.
Q8: The officers should have 'separated' the couple, and taken the woman to a shelter, and the male to the precinct for questioning, so the officers could get a better understanding of the situation, rather than merely dismissing the incident with the words that 'he is a good man.'
Q9: I do not agree with the night-in-jail law, given that it may discourage reporting of domestic violence cases, if women are afraid of angering their partners. Still, it essential that all domestic violence complaints are recorded, even for the smallest infractions, and that women are given a place of refuge automatically, regardless of their circumstances. Restraining orders in proven cases of domestic violence must also be respected and males that have engaged even in minor acts of violence should have to go to mandatory counseling, so they can be monitored and supervised.
