Specialized courts can be an efficient structure for addressing domestic violence.

As domestic violence courts continue to develop across the country, jurisdictions developing specialized courts routinely seek examples for best practices.

Since FY 2013, OVW has been engaged in an effort

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to develop and disseminate best practices for domestic violence courts by funding mentor court sites.

The OVW Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative (Mentor Court Initiative) creates a unique opportunity to recognize well-established specialized courts and enable them to guide novice or developing courts and court-based programs that wish to significantly improve their responses to domestic violence cases and ensure victim safety and offender accountability.

These well-established courts successfully serve as national models and share their expertise by hosting site visits, linking courts with peers facing similar challenges, and assisting other domestic violence courts to implement best practices to respond effectively to these difficult cases.