SFPD Launches Program To Identify High Risk Domestic Violence Cases

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At the launch of new program to Identify High Risk Domestic Violence Cases in the Bayview District.

SAN FRANCISCO—The City and County of San Francisco launched Bayview Domestic Violence High Risk Program – a program designed to identify high risk domestic violence cases in San Francisco’s Bayview district, today June 7. The program is an inititative partnered by the Office of the Mayor, the San Francisco Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the Department on the Status of Women, Bayview YMCA, La Casa de las Madres, and Glide Foundation is funded by a grant from the federal Office of Violence Against Women.

The program comprises of a screening tool devised by researchers who have studied high risk factors in domestic violence cases. The screening tool consisting of a series of 11 questions which will aid first responder police officers in identifying victims facing a high risk of domestic violence. Once the victim has been correctly identified, the police officer will connect them via phone to a domestic violence advocate from the La Casa de las Madres hotline, according to sanfranciscopolice.org.

The program has been implemented after similar protocols proved successful in other parts of the country. The implementation of such programs has resulted in an increased numbers of domestic violence victims connecting to services. It has successfully curbed the number of domestic violence homicides.

“There is no room for domestic violence in San Francisco,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “The well-being and safety of our communities is paramount. We must continue to make the investments and deploy new tools to make these crimes non-existent in our City. With the collaboration of SFPD and our community-based partners, we are one step closer to solving this dangerous problem.”

“Police officers who respond to domestic violence incidents are uniquely situated to connect victims to services,” said SFPD Police Chief William Scott.  “We are excited to be piloting this program in the Bayview and believe it will save lives.”

Bayview Station has been chosen to launch the Pilot Program, as it is the police district with one of the highest rates of reporting domestic violence incidents to the police. If the Bayview pilot succeeds, San Francisco hopes to implement the program citywide.

To support the initiative, the City and County of San Francisco has received a grant of $750,000 from the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program (formerly known as the Grants to Encourage Arrest and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program)

For additional information contact Minouche Kandel, Director of Women’s Policy, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women at (415) 252-3203 (work) or at (415) 572-6482 (cell) via email at mi*************@sf***.org.