By Jinnie Chua, Assistant Editor of In Public Safety
The emotionally charged nature of domestic violence calls is just one reason they can be so volatile. Difficulties can arise at various stages of a domestic violence investigation, from the likely possibility that the offender will be at the scene to the high rate of victim recantations.
Just this month, the city of Columbus, Georgia, was sued for fining domestic violence victims who declined to press charges against their partners. One of the attorneys at the Southern Center for Human Rights who filed the federal lawsuit said the city’s policy “sounds like something out of the 19th century.”
As we wrap up Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we should reflect upon the realities of domestic violence and what more needs to be done to ensure victims are receiving appropriate assistance. “The main thing is to understand the gravity of these situations,” said Jeremy Nikolow, an 11-year veteran officer in central Florida. “We can’t just think ‘Tom and Jean are arguing again’ and overlook how serious it could be.”
Read more: Traversing the Difficulties of Domestic Violence Calls
