NCJ Number
161110
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 65 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1996) Pages: 18-20
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Many domestic abuse victims decide to disavow statements and drop charges against their abusers, but law enforcement agencies still have a vested interest in pursuing such cases.
Abstract
A manipulative offender who can convince a frightened and vulnerable victim to drop charges may be deterred from violence if he knows police and prosecutors can pursue the case without the victim's testimony. Law enforcement agencies can obtain sufficient evidence to secure convictions without victim assistance by carefully prioritizing evidence collection in domestic assault cases. Evidence collection procedures employed by the Dover, New Hampshire, Police Department are described as they pertain to 911 tapes, victim statements, photographs, offender and witness interviews, medical records, and plain view evidence. 1 photograph