Report on Domestic Violence Policing and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Historical Context and Policy Evolution

A significant policy evolution has occurred over several decades, reframing domestic violence from a private, familial issue to a critical public safety concern. This movement led to substantial legislative reform, most notably the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act within the 1994 federal Crime Bill. A primary outcome of this reform was the widespread adoption of mandatory arrest policies by law enforcement agencies.

Analysis of Mandatory Arrest Policies and Systemic Challenges

Despite their intent, existing research indicates that mandatory arrest laws present considerable challenges and may not achieve their primary objective of deterring domestic violence. Key concerns identified include:

• Limited Deterrent Effect: Evidence suggests these policies may not effectively reduce the incidence of domestic violence.
• Unintended Consequences for Survivors: A significant adverse outcome is the potential for survivors to be inadvertently drawn into the criminal justice system, which can compound their trauma and create barriers to seeking help.

These findings necessitate a critical re-evaluation of current strategies to ensure they align with the goals of survivor safety and perpetrator accountability.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The effectiveness of domestic violence interventions is directly linked to the achievement of several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). An analysis of current policing challenges through the SDG framework reveals critical areas for improvement.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Progress on domestic violence is fundamental to achieving SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

1. Target 5.2: This target calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. Policies that fail to protect survivors or that inadvertently penalize them directly contravene this goal.
2. Empowerment: Ensuring justice and safety for survivors is a prerequisite for their economic and social empowerment. Ineffective systems undermine this objective.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The criminal justice response to domestic violence is a measure of the strength and fairness of public institutions, as outlined in SDG 16.

• Target 16.1: This target aims to significantly reduce all forms of violence. Strategies must be proven to interrupt cycles of abuse to contribute to this goal.
• Target 16.3: This target promotes the rule of law and ensures equal access to justice for all. When policing strategies have unintended negative consequences for survivors, they fail to provide the equal access to justice that this goal demands. Building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions requires moving beyond policies that may harm the very individuals they are meant to protect.

Future Directions and Strategic Recommendations

In response to these challenges, the Council on Criminal Justice’s Women’s Justice Commission, alongside a panel of experts, is examining the complex impacts of domestic violence policing. The objective is to develop and promote promising strategies that improve outcomes. Future approaches must be strategically designed to achieve three core objectives:

1. Interrupt cycles of domestic violence through effective, evidence-based interventions.
2. Hold abusers accountable through fair and consistent justice system processes.
3. Protect and empower survivors, ensuring their safety and access to justice are prioritized.

Moving forward, aligning domestic violence policy reform with the principles of the SDGs is essential for creating sustainable improvements in safety, accountability, and justice for women.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on domestic violence policing and justice for survivors primarily addresses two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal is central to the article’s theme. The text focuses on “domestic violence” and the “Violence Against Women Act,” highlighting a specific form of gender-based violence. The discussion revolves around protecting “survivors,” who are contextually identified as women, and achieving “justice for women.” This directly aligns with SDG 5’s aim to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is connected through the article’s examination of the justice system’s response to domestic violence. It mentions “policing,” “mandatory arrest policies,” the “criminal justice system,” and the need to “hold abusers accountable.” The article questions the effectiveness of these institutions and policies (“research suggests these laws may not deter domestic violence”) and calls for strategies to improve “justice for women,” which relates directly to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, the following specific targets can be identified:

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

  The article is explicitly about “domestic violence,” which it describes as previously being treated as a “private family matter.” The entire discussion, from the “Violence Against Women Act” to exploring new approaches to “interrupt domestic violence,” is aimed at eliminating this specific form of violence against women, making Target 5.2 directly relevant.

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

  Domestic violence is a significant form of violence. The article’s goal of finding approaches that “work to interrupt domestic violence” and improve “safety” for survivors contributes directly to the reduction of violence as outlined in this target.

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

  The article critiques the impact of “mandatory arrest policies” and the way they “draw survivors into the criminal justice system.” It calls for strategies to improve “accountability, and justice for women,” which is a clear reference to ensuring the justice system is effective, fair, and provides equal access to justice for survivors of domestic violence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators with specific codes or quantitative data. However, it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures that could be used to track progress:

• Implied Indicator for Target 5.2: The rate of domestic violence.

  The article questions whether mandatory arrest laws “deter domestic violence as intended.” This implies that a key measure of success for any policy is the reduction in the incidence or prevalence of domestic violence. Progress would be measured by a decrease in reported or surveyed cases of violence against women by their partners.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.3: The effectiveness and equity of justice system responses.

  The text highlights that policies “may inadvertently draw survivors into the criminal justice system,” suggesting a negative outcome. Progress could be measured by tracking the rates at which survivors are prosecuted or negatively impacted by justice interventions. Furthermore, the call to “hold abusers accountable” implies an indicator related to the rate of successful prosecutions and sanctions for perpetrators of domestic violence.

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Survivor safety and well-being.

  The article’s emphasis on the need to “protect survivors” and “improve safety” suggests that progress can be measured by indicators related to the physical and psychological safety of those who have experienced domestic violence. This could include rates of re-victimization or surveys on survivors’ sense of security and access to protective services.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: counciloncj.org