Who Will Help Me? Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out About Law Enforcement Responses

In April 2015, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), with the help of Professor TK Logan, a nationally and internationally recognized expert on partner violence and stalking at the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kentucky, conducted a survey about law enforcement responses to partner abuse with survivors who used The Hotline’s chat services. This report contains the survey results which show a strong disconnect between victims of domestic violence seeking help from law enforcement and the support those authorities are tasked with providing. The report highlights a number of factors that create major obstacles for victims attempting to cope with domestic violence – from distrust of the authorities to fear of punishment from their abusive partner.