Domestic Violence Unit

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) is a branch of the Special Victims Unit, which itself is a section of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. The DVU investigates cases encompassing all forms of domestic violence. The range from misdemeanor assaults and communication of threats to more serious offenses such as felony assaults with weapons, assaults on or in front of children, sexual assaults and murder. These investigators handle cases that involve the most sensitive topic encountered by law enforcement. Incidents are reported by the general public or referred from other government agencies who have obtained relevant information. Investigations are then initiated with the interviewing victim’s witnesses and other information providers. Evidence is collected and suspects are interviewed. The findings are presented to the District Attorney’s Office and cases where probable cause has been established that one or more crimes have been committed are prosecuted in various criminal courts. The DVU works closely with the Department of Social Services, First Step Domestic Violence c=Center, Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County in providing the highest quality of services to the victims of domestic violence. This unit also serves and enforces Domestic Violence Protective Orders issued by the Court. This process involves locating and serving defendants naming in these actions as well as apprehending those who violate these orders. The goal of this unit is to provide specialized investigative services to the victims of these crimes and apprehend the suspects who seek to do them harm.