Reports

Walking the Line: Navigating Duty and Discretion in Responding to Family Violence

In a pivotal new study released by the Georgia Commission on Family Violence's Fatality Review Project in January 2024, Walking the Line: Navigating Duty and Discretion in Responding to Family Violence offers a fascinating deep dive into the alarming trend of higher arrest rates for women in Georgia family violence cases. Although women are typically the victims of domestic violence incidents, the data analysis from the study revealed that they are arrested at a disproportionate rate compared to their male counterparts. The report sheds light on the various factors that influence law enforcement's handling of domestic disturbance calls, revealing a potential gender bias in the conscious and unconscious factors that go into the decision-making process at the scene. 

The study calls for specialized training and standardized protocols to improve the way law enforcement officers handle domestic violence cases. By exploring the gender gap in arrest rates, the report argues that safety, accountability, and justice can be better served for all individuals involved, regardless of gender or circumstances, with improvements in training and departmental standards for responding to and investigating these cases. It concludes with recommendations for implementing uniform training and clear, written departmental procedures that align with best practices in domestic violence response to help eliminate disparities in arrest decisions.

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