NCJ Number
131208
Editor(s)
J Agtuca,
C Heisler
Date Published
1990
Length
232 pages
Annotation
This manual was prepared by the Family Violence Project in San Francisco to assist prosecutors to deal with domestic violence cases.
Abstract
The Family Violence Project was the first criminal justice-based domestic violence victim advocacy program in California. During 1988, 182,540 domestic violence victims in California called the police for assistance. California recognizes the key role played by prosecutors in domestic violence cases and the need for a consistent response from all branches of the criminal justice system. The manual covers domestic violence statutes, prosecution policies and protocols, pretrial release considerations, setting bail, civil restraining orders, discovery issues, and victim issues. The manual also details the credibility of children's testimony, expert testimony, character and conduct evidence, the admissibility of hearsay evidence, jury selection and misconduct, jury instructions, probation, diversion, and dispositions. Appendixes provide additional information on domestic violence perpetrators and victims. 166 footnotes, 54 references, and 3 charts