GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Police Department was selected as one of four departments in the state for a pilot program that will help officers evaluate if domestic violence victims are still in danger.
Deputy Chief Mark Williams said the department was asked to participate because he served on Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.
The program involves refining a special investigation form that assesses the seriousness of a domestic violence situation. It’s a series of questions officers can ask victims to determine the history of the relationship and if there’s a high risk for the person to be assaulted again or killed.
Williams said officers’ first priority when responding to a domestic violence call is securing the scene and determining immediate danger, and that they aren’t always looking at the history of the relationship, or if they had to come to the residence before.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior. It doesn’t happen when somebody snaps,” Williams said. “These are repeated behaviors that happen over time, in an attempt to basically control someone.”
Williams said the department already does a lot of what the form lays out, and the reason the department was interested in being one of the pilot cities was so officers could provide feedback and have a say in the worksheet before it goes statewide.
The three other departments are Quincy, Foxboro and Woburn.
He said Franklin and Hampden counties are ahead of the curve on the issue through work the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has done in recent years to ensure domestic violence victims are connected with resources like victim advocacy organizations.
Williams said the form can also be referenced and used by prosecutors if charges are filed.
According to the Greenfield Police Department, in 2016 officers responded to about 175 incidences related to domestic violence. During that same time the department had about 93 criminal complaints filed in court relating to domestic violence.
The worksheet is a way to standardize practices across the state and make sure that all departments will be asking the right questions to determine risk for an individual.
The pilot program was announced in a press conference on Thursday by Polito.
“Tools like these worksheets are critical in addressing violent crimes against women, and in improving our response to them,” said Polito, chairwoman of the task force.
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