Domestic Violence Courts

Domestic violence cases involving spouses and other intimate partners pose challenges for the criminal justice system as each case moves from arrest to adjudication to sentencing. In the 1990s, many jurisdictions began to create specialized courts and court programs to aid domestic violence victims and hold offenders accountable.

The National Institute of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women sponsored a field test of an innovative court-based approach to stopping domestic violence called the Judicial Oversight Demonstration (JOD). JOD asked judges and court-related partners (such as victim advocates and treatment providers) to take a more active role in ensuring the safety of victims.

Findings from the demonstration may help other jurisdictions considering putting a domestic violence court into place.