MCOLES Domestic Violence Response 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A victim tells an officer her abuser tracked her location using a secretly installed app on her phone. This is an example of:
- Legal monitoring permitted between spouses
- Technology-facilitated stalking and coercive control (Correct answer)
- A civil privacy matter outside law enforcement jurisdiction
- A misdemeanor disorderly conduct
Correct answer: Technology-facilitated stalking and coercive control
Covertly installing tracking software on a partner's device without consent constitutes stalking and is a form of technology-facilitated coercive control prosecutable under Michigan law.
Question 2: When documenting injuries in a DV report, the officer should use which type of language?
- Subjective language such as 'victim appeared to be in pain'
- Objective, descriptive language such as '3 cm laceration on left cheekbone' (Correct answer)
- Medical terminology reserved for licensed medical personnel
- General terms like 'bruising noted on face'
Correct answer: Objective, descriptive language such as '3 cm laceration on left cheekbone'
Objective, specific, measurable descriptions of injuries — size, color, location, shape — create the strongest evidentiary record and withstand cross-examination.
Question 3: A DV victim expresses fear that calling for help will result in her undocumented immigration status being reported. The officer's best response is to:
- Confirm that all crime reports are shared with immigration authorities
- Explain that Michigan police focus on the crime itself and victim safety, not immigration status (Correct answer)
- Decline to take a report until the victim's status is confirmed
- Contact ICE as required by the department's federal cooperation agreement
Correct answer: Explain that Michigan police focus on the crime itself and victim safety, not immigration status
Officers should reassure DV victims that local law enforcement's role is to investigate the crime and protect safety, not to enforce immigration law, to encourage reporting.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'safety planning' as part of a DV response?
- Advising the victim to immediately leave the home and never return
- Collaborating with the victim to identify options and steps to increase her safety given her specific circumstances (Correct answer)
- Providing a list of shelters and ending police involvement
- Requiring the victim to relocate before officers can assist
Correct answer: Collaborating with the victim to identify options and steps to increase her safety given her specific circumstances
Safety planning is a victim-centered, collaborative process that helps the victim identify realistic options and protective steps tailored to her unique situation and readiness.
Question 5: Under Michigan law, an arrest for domestic assault made without a warrant requires that the officer:
- Have a written statement from the victim before making the arrest
- Have probable cause to believe the assault occurred, even if the officer did not witness it (Correct answer)
- Obtain supervisor approval prior to arrest
- Have at least two independent witnesses corroborate the victim's account
Correct answer: Have probable cause to believe the assault occurred, even if the officer did not witness it
Michigan's DV statute permits warrantless arrest based on probable cause that domestic assault occurred, regardless of whether the officer witnessed the assault or has a victim statement.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a DV supplemental or 'blue form' report in Michigan jurisdictions?
- To replace the standard incident report in domestic cases
- To capture additional lethality indicators, relationship history, and victim advocacy referrals (Correct answer)
- To document the suspect's version of events separately
- To satisfy the PPO application requirement automatically
Correct answer: To capture additional lethality indicators, relationship history, and victim advocacy referrals
DV supplemental forms capture lethality risk factors, prior history, and victim service referrals that standard incident reports do not, improving both prosecution and victim safety outcomes.
Question 7: A victim states she does not want the suspect arrested because she depends on him financially. The officer should:
- Honor the victim's request and document that no arrest was desired
- Explain that the arrest decision rests with law enforcement, not the victim, and connect her with advocacy resources (Correct answer)
- Arrest only if the victim provides a signed statement requesting it
- Mediate a financial agreement between the parties before leaving
Correct answer: Explain that the arrest decision rests with law enforcement, not the victim, and connect her with advocacy resources
Arrest authority in DV cases rests with the officer, not the victim; the officer should acknowledge the victim's concerns, make the appropriate arrest if probable cause exists, and refer her to advocacy and financial assistance resources.
MCOLES Domestic Violence Response 5
A victim tells an officer her abuser tracked her location using a secretly installed app on her phone.
This is an example of: