Function:

The Saint Paul Police Department Family Violence Unit (F.V.U.) is headed by a commander who reports to the deputy chief of major crimes and investigations.

The F.V.U. has two sections: Family Violence investigating all cases of physical abuse that are interfamilial in nature, involving victims who are over 18 years of age, and Elder Abuse investigations. Spouse and former spouse, parents with a child in common, persons who reside or previously resided together, persons in a significant or sexual relationship, and persons related by blood are all examples of interfamilial (domestic) relationships.

The Saint Paul Police Department has adopted the Blueprint for Safety protocol when responding to incidents of domestic violence. The Blueprint for Safety is a model that was created to link the city's criminal justice agencies together in a coherent, philosophically sound domestic violence intervention model. The Blueprint is anchored in six foundational principles that we have identified as essential characteristics of intervention that maximize safety for victims of domestic violence and hold offenders accountable while offering them opportunities to change.

Six Principles

  1. Adhere to an interagency approach and collective intervention goals
  2. Build attention to the context and severity of abuse into each intervention
  3. Recognize that most domestic violence is a patterned crime requiring continuing engagement with victims and offenders
  4. Establish sure and swift consequences for continued abuse
  5. Use the power of the criminal justice system to send messages of help and accountability
  6. Act in ways that reduce unintended consequences and the disparity of impact on victims and offenders

The F.V.U. does not handle cases of babysitters, and daycare operators, or cases that involve orders for protection, restraining orders, harassment orders, or no contact orders where there is no interfamilial relationship.

Revised September 30, 2019

Last Edited: October 11, 2019