Not Neutral: The Impact of Mandatory Reporting on Domestic Violence Survivors

As increasing light is shed on the limitations of criminal legal responses to domestic violence, calls for community-based solutions that do not involve the criminal legal system are growing louder. Mandatory reporting laws pose a significant challenge in making this shift, however, by connecting many informal and formal domestic violence supports to criminal and legal institutions. In this TDVAM webinar, we will explore the impact of mandatory reporting on domestic violence survivors, highlighting unique impacts for LGBTQ young people. We will present findings from a 2016 survey that examined how mandatory reporting affects the help-seeking of domestic violence survivors. We will also identify practical strategies advocates can use to decrease negative consequences of reporting and increase survivor safety and self-determination.