In the month of February 2012…
DC DV Court Watch Project volunteers sat in on 195 CPO cases.
Where the gender of the parties was recorded:
Petitioners: 137 females, 29 males, 1 transgender; petitioners were female in 82% of the cases.
Respondents: 52 females, 120 males; respondents were male in 70% of the cases.
Where the perceived race of the parties was recorded:
Petitioners: 118 black/African American, 8 white, 8 Hispanic
Respondents: 101 black/African American, 8 white, 11 Hispanic
The racial break-down of cases recorded for parties were disproportionately African-American Volunteers recorded 86% Black, 6% White, 7% Hispanic.
Where the relationship of the parties in the cases was recorded:
59 previously dated or were romantically involved,
12 were relatives,
11 were roommates,
6 involved stalking, where in which, there was not necessarily a prior relationship.
Petitioners were filing for Civil Protection Orders based on incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) in approximately 67% of cases.
Where the outcomes of the cases were recorded:
Dismissals
Dismissed With Prejudice: 1 (requested by Petitioner);
Dismissed Without Prejudice: 42 (25 of which were because Petitioner was absent)
CPOs
53 granted (34 were through consent orders, 18 were default because Respondent did not appear, and 4 were in contested hearings);
1 denied (in contested hearing)
Continuances
69 granted (20 of which were because no service of process had occurred, and 13 due to trailing criminal case)
