Executive summary
Between March and May 2021, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) conducted a survey on the experiences survivors impacted by intimate partner violence* or sexual assault have had with members of law enforcement. The survey, conducted on The Hotline’s chat line and website, collected both qualitative and quantitative data. The two groups were categorized by those who had chosen not to call the police and those who had called the police. Of the roughly 1,500 who responded, approximately 82% had contacted the police, while 12% had not. Of those who did call the police, more than twice the number (39%) actually felt less safe after calling, compared to 20% who felt safer. Both groups demonstrated fear of calling the police. Seventy-seven percent of those who called the police were afraid to call them again; 92% of those who had not called were afraid to do so. Yet 62% of those who called say that they would call police again. Most of the reasons given centered around the fact that they felt law enforcement was their only option. When asked if other resources had been available, would they have chosen them over calling the police, 71% answered “yes” and provided examples of resources needed. This report contains powerful information from survivors who voluntarily gave insight into their experiences through answers to our questions and in their own words. They did so with the hope that the criminal justice system will hear them, believe them and effect change. Until then, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of looking beyond the criminal legal system for interventions that meet the needs for justice, safety and the survival of people subjected to abuse.