District of Columbia

State Overview

State Summary

The District of Columbia has legislation in place that defines domestic violence, including same-sex romantic relationships. The DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) collects incident-based data but does not report NIBRS data to the FBI. The DC Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), on the other hand, is NIBRS certified and provides incident-level information. The MTPD does collect data elements in addition to what is required by NIBRS.

The MPD reports incidents that have been identified as domestic violence cases. When an incident is flagged as domestic, a supplemental report is completed, which includes various information about the offense, victim, and suspect. Only sexual assault and stalking arrests are tracked in the arrests database, however. A specialized unit of MPD, the Domestic Violence Unit, summarizes the number of domestic violence cases and provides the information in an annual fact sheet. Similarly, the Sexual Assault Unit compiles forcible rape statistics using the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. This unit also submits a daily morning report on sexual assault incidents to each district and an annual report to the Mayor.

The Domestic Violence Unit of the District of Columbia Superior Court manages all domestic violence cases that come through the criminal justice system. The unit submits monthly and annual reports to the Executive Office, which publishes the information in its annual report. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice's Office of Victim Services administers state funds to crime victim service providers. In return, those agencies provide OVS with counts of the number of clients seen on a monthly basis. These data are not currently provided to the public.

The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence collects incident-based data that are reported to the Office of Victim's Services. The DC Rape Crisis Center also collects incident-level data on hotline calls and shelter visits. Currently, this information is only for internal use.

State Projects

• Court Advocacy Program (CAP)
  The Court Advocacy Program (CAP), managed by Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment is located in the Domestic Violence Intake Center at DC Superior Court and the DVIC Southeast Satellite (DVICSE) at Greater Southeast Community Hospital. CAP staff provide court-based advocacy services to between 20 and 30 victims every business day-- over 4,000 clients each year.



• On-Call Advocacy Program (OCAP)
  The Court Advocacy Program (CAP), managed by Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment created the On-Call Advocacy Program (OCAP) to provide on-call staff and volunteer advocates for domestic violence victims who contact the Metropolitan Police Department between 6:00PM and 6:00AM, and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays, when DC Superior Court services are unavailable. OCAP advocates are available to meet with a victim at a safe location, or speak with them on the phone.



• Court Watch
  Court Watch is a volunteer-staffed project managed by Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment in which trained observers record information about Civil Protection Order hearings. The data gathered by Court Watch volunteers are published in semi-annual reports. The Court Watch project provides advocates with information about how the court deals with domestic violence, and provides feedback to the Court regarding its treatment of domestic violence survivors. The goals of this project are to improve the court experience for those seeking relief, and to give survivors a larger voice in the court system.



• Lethality Assessment Project
  SAFE gives top priority to victims who are at high risk for serious assault or homicide at the hands of their abusers. Every domestic violence case is different, but research conducted by Dr. Jacqueline Campbell at Johns Hopkins University indicates that some situations are more dangerous than others based on identifiable factors. SAFE conducts a risk assessment based on this research with every client that they work with, and specialized services are available for those who are identified as being at high risk for serious injury or homicide. In addition to this basic screening, the Metropolitan Police Department has partnered with SAFE through OCAP to provide a special protocol for domestic violence calls in parts of the city where call volume is highest in an effort to provide help where it is most needed. In four Public Safety Areas in the District, officers call OCAP to make a referral from each and every domestic violence call they go to between intimate partners. If the victim shows indicators of being at high risk for future harm, they receive a wider array of services more quickly through the assistance and coordination of the Office of Victim Services and the Executive Office of the Mayor.

Available Reports

General Crime

• Metropolitan Police Department. (Monthly). Crime and activity statistics.
• Metropolitan Police Department. (Annual). Research and Other Specialized Reports.
• Fontaine, J., Markman, J., Nadeau, C. (2010).  Promising Practices of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department. District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute.
• District of Columbia Office of Victim Services. (2007).  2006 Annual Report.

Domestic Violence

• DC Court System. (Annual). Annual report.
• Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment. (2007). District of Columbia court watch report: December 2007.
• Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment. (2007). DC court watch: Fiscal year 2006 report.
• Dutton, M. A., Goodman, L. and Schmidt, R. J. (2006).  Development and validation of a coercive control measure for intimate partner violence. NCJ 214438. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.
• Uekert, B., Peters, T., Romberger, W., Abraham, M., and Keilitz, S. (2006).  Serving Limited English Proficient (LEP) battered women: A national survey of the courts’ capacity to provide protection orders. NCJ 216072. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.
• DC Metropolitan Police Department. (2005).  Domestic violence fact sheet.
• Steketee, M. W., Levey, L. S., and Keilitz, S. L. (2000).  Implementing an integrated domestic violence court: Systemic change in the District of Columbia. National Center for State Courts
• *Keilitz, S., Efkeman, H. S., and Hannaford, P. L. (1997).  Civil protection orders: The benefits and limitations for victims of domestic violence. NCJ 172223. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.



• Keilitz, S., Hannaford, P. L., and Efkeman, H. S. (1995).  Benefits and Limitations of Civil Protection Orders for Victims of Domestic Violence in Wilmington, Delaware, Denver, Colorado, and DC, 1994-1995. NACJD Study No. 2557.

Sexual Assault

• Metro Transit Police. (Annual). Year-to-date crime report.

Sample Data Collection Forms

The Metro Transit Police Department uses this form to collect information about reported offenses:

•  Event Report

This is the sexual assault report presented daily to the Metropolitan Police Department's Chief, Assistant Chiefs, and Office of the Superintendent of Detectives Commanding Officer:

•  Year-to-Date Sexual Assault Unit Statistics

These are the hotline and intake forms used by the DC Rape Crisis Center:

•  Hotline Contact Sheet
•  Intake Form

This is the data entry screen used by the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

•  New Client Entry Form

Superior Court collects information from victims applying for compensation using this form:

•  Application for Crime Victims Compensation

Available Data

General Crime Statistics

• Metropolitan Police Department (Weekly). Weekly Reports.
• Metropolitan Police Department (Annual). Annual Index Crime Totals, 2001-2009.
• Metropolitan Police Department (Annual). District Crime Data at a Glance.

Domestic Violence

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) Detailed State Tables.
• Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (SAFE). (2008). Domestic violence statistics.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2011). Domestic violence counts 10: Executive summary for the District of Columbia.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2010). Domestic violence counts 09: Executive summary for the District of Columbia.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2009). Domestic violence counts 08: Executive summary for the District of Columbia.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2008). Domestic violence counts 07: Executive summary for the District of Columbia.
• National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2007). Domestic violence counts: Executive summary for the District of Columbia.

Sexual Assault

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) Detailed State Tables.

Links to State Agencies and Resources

• Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (SAFE)
• My Sister's Place
• DC Rape Crisis Center
• District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
  • Domestic Violence Unit
  • Sexual Assault Resources
• Office of Victim Services
• District of Columbia Metro Transit Police Department
• Superior Court of the District of Columbia Domestic Violence Unit
• Women Empowered Against Violence
• Men Can Stop Rape
• Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
• House of Ruth
• Family and Child Services
• Ayuda