The High Point Police Department Special Victims Unit receives thousands of domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) calls each year. These calls are some of the most dangerous situations our officers must handle. High Point Community Against Violence supports the efforts of our police department and assists at times, based on requests from the department.
An Intimate Partner is defined as a spouse, a former spouse, persons who share a child in common, a person who lives with a partner as a spouse, or a person who is in an intimate dating relationship.
Research shows there are four distinct levels of IPV or domestic violence. Based on that, the High Point Police Department follows an Offender Classification system, levels D through A. Level D is someone who has at least one complaint against him or her. Level A is the most serious offender, with multiple complaints, charges, a history of convictions and/or weapon use.
These classification levels are used to match the type of notice given to each offender, based on arrest history. The purpose is to incrementally increase the sanctions for each prohibited act and to request fast track prosecution for offenders as warranted. Domestic violence detectives conduct one-on-one notifications.
Officers are REQUIRED to make an arrest if probable cause for a violation of a domestic-related offense can be established. Officers are also required to document each encounter of IPV even in incidents where an assault has not occurred. Holding offenders accountable and providing resources for domestic violence victims is paramount.
Domestic violence situations can be complex and volatile. HPCAV joins other community organizations, along with the police department, in working to prevent and reduce the incidence of domestic violence.