Vera Institute of Justice

Overview

Many communities have improved the way that they police and prosecute misdemeanor crimes related to intimate partner violence. Courts, too, have become more advanced in how they sentence those found guilty. Yet, critical challenges in responding to these crimes remain. These include ensuring that offenders meet conditions imposed on them, preventing future acts of violence, and making victims feel safer as a result of court actions. This publication explores how three communities improved their system's ability to monitor offenders by using post-conviction compliance hearings and graduated sanctions and rewards. It is part of the Judicial Oversight Demonstration Initiative's four-part series Enhancing Responses to Domestic Violence.