Tool: Assessing Risks of Domestic Violence

Brief Description

The new tool assessing risks of domestic violence was approved by the decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs and entered into force in September 2018. Prior to the enactment of this tool, police officers were required to determine the questions to ask a victim of domestic violence at the crime scene, and usually investigators had their own, non-standardized approaches to this process. The significant changes were introduced to the restrictive and protective orders, according to which, the restrictive and protective orders can be applied to all facts of violence against women. Restraining order issued by police on the grounds of violence does not require additional submission to the court. In addition, domestic violence victim as well as any female victim of violence may receive free legal advice, medical and psychological assistance on the state expense; enjoy the right of receiving 30-day vacation and shelter during a year. Formulation of the Tool was based on Article 10 of the Law of Georgia on Elimination of Violence Against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of Victims of Violence (2017). The assessment tool also enables police officers to document the history of violence suffered and evaluate risks for lethality and re-offence using a standardized methodology.