Specialized Units in the Successful Prosecution of Domestic Violence Charges

Because domestic violence cases are challenging to prosecute, many prosecutors’ offices have created specialized units to handle them. Their efficacy, however, remains unclear. The present study evaluates a Special Victims Unit (SVU) operating within a South Carolina judicial circuit. We assess the relationship between implementation of the SVU and three outcomes: victim cooperation, evidence amount, and non-prosecution/dismissal. Using a pre-post design centered on the SVU’s implementation in late 2017, we analyze the population of domestic violence charges filed between 2017 and 2018 (N = 1,155) and employ inverse propensity score treatment weighting to estimate average treatment effects. Contrary to expectations, victim cooperation decreased and case dismissals increased following implementation. At the same time, the amount of evidence collected significantly improved. Our findings contribute new evidence to the ongoing conversation about SVUs and the implications associated with their adoption.