Guidance Regarding Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

We write to thank the Department of Justice for its commitment to addressing gender discrimination in policing1 and to urge the Department to issue, without delay, much-needed guidance outlining how flawed law enforcement responses to domestic violence and sexual assault can violate federal law and constitute police misconduct. The undersigned include 88 national groups and 98 state and local organizations that are dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, eliminating gender-based violence, and advocating for survivors. In light of the ongoing attention to policing reform, we believe that issuing guidance that addresses the context of domestic violence and sexual assault– which the Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing identified as necessitating a coordinated community and law enforcement response – will ensure that survivors are more fairly treated by the justice system.