Safety and Accountability: State Courts and Domestic Violence
Adopted in November 2004, this COSCA position paper outlines the urgent need for courts to take a more coordinated, informed, and proactive role in responding to domestic violence. It examines the limitations of traditional case processing and presents a framework for improving victim safety and offender accountability through specialized courts, judicial monitoring, interagency collaboration, and community partnerships. The paper also highlights innovative programs across the U.S. and offers detailed recommendations for strengthening court responses through leadership, technology, training, and system integration.