The purpose of this project was to evaluate the level of
domestic violence prosecution throughout the United States and to
promote effective prosecution approaches through dissemination of
information. The project sought to identify and connect local
attorneys' needs for information with the best knowledge available on
the most effective prosecution methods. In order to appraise domestic
violence prosecution in the United States, the researchers mailed a
survey to a nationally-representative sample of prosecutors to assess
prosecution strategies in domestic violence cases (Part 1,
Prosecutors' Survey Data). Smaller jurisdictions had such a low
response rate to the initial survey that a modified follow-up survey
(Part 2, Prosecutors' Follow-Up Data) was administered to those
jurisdictions. From these surveys, the researchers identified three
sites with pioneering specialized domestic violence prosecution
programs: Duluth, Minnesota, King County, Washington, and San
Francisco, California. In these three sites, the researchers then
conducted a case file analysis of a random sample of domestic violence
cases (Part 3, Case File Data). A survey of a random sample of female
victims was also undertaken in King County and San Francisco (Part 4,
Victim Interview Data). In addition, the researchers conducted on-site
evaluations of these three specialized programs in which they
interviewed staff about the scope of the domestic violence problem,
domestic violence support personnel, the impact of the program on the
domestic violence problem, and recommendations for the future. The
qualitative data collected from these evaluations are provided only in
the codebook for this collection. Parts 1 and 2, the Prosecutors'
Surveys, contain variables about case management, case screening and
charging, pretrial release policies, post-charge diversion, trial,
sentencing options, victim support programs, and office and
jurisdiction demographics. Questions cover the volume of domestic
violence prosecutions, formal protocols for domestic violence
prosecution, ways to deal with uncooperative victims, pro-arrest and
no-drop policies, protection orders, types of evidence used, and
collaboration with other organizations to prosecute domestic violence
cases. In addition, Part 1 includes variables on diversion programs,
victim noncompliance, substance abuse problems, victim support
programs, and plea negotiations. Variables in Part 3, Case File Data,
deal with reporting, initial and final charges, injuries sustained,
weapons used, evidence available, protection orders issued, victim
cooperation, police testimony, disposition, sentence, costs, and
restitution for each domestic violence case. Part 4, Victim Interview
Data, includes variables concerning victims' employment history,
number of children, and substance abuse, opinions about the charges
against the defendant, decision-making in the case, and prosecution
strategies, and victims' participation in the case, amount of support
from and contact with criminal justice agencies, safety concerns, and
performance evaluations of various levels of the criminal justice
system.