When police in New York State respond to a domestic violence incident, they will soon use a new form to report that crime.
The redesigned form included input from officers, prosecutors and victim advocates.
Jaime Saunders, CEO of Willow Domestic Violence Center in Rochester, says the consistent reporting of domestic violence incidents across jurisdictions is crucial for victim safety.
"So if there is a domestic incident that occurs in Penfield, or if there is one that happens in Greece, or the city of Rochester, or downstate in Orange County, we're all collecting the same information to see a pattern and build a case and to make sure we have a full picture of what's happening."
There are tips for officers on the report forms. Saunders says one example is: Do not interview the potential victim in front of the perpetrator. “You can imagine that the abuser, just by a look across the room, can silence what the victim wants to share."
The new forms allow officers to document more information about the victims and the factors that may put them at risk, and greater details about the statements of witnesses and suspects.
Police across New York fill out some 400,000 of the forms each year. Saunders says domestic violence in Rochester is reported at a rate that is three times the state average, and more than 70 percent of the cases are never reported.
