Updated for 2001, the Marin County Law Enforcement Protocol offers a model "pro-arrest" policy and clear set of standards and procedures for police officers to use in responding to domestic violence calls. Developed by the Marin County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and approved by the County Chiefs of Police Association, the protocol meets current California Penal Code requirements and can easily be adapted by other counties and jurisdictions. New additions to the Penal Code pertaining to violence in dating relationships are highlighted. Detailed checklists help guide officers through the many steps involved in investigating domestic violence cases--interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, determining the primary or dominant aggressor, assisting victims, making arrests, and completing crime reports. Several practical tools are included with the protocol: a summary of penal codes related to domestic violence, a set of working definitions, and sample forms for advising victims of their rights, for obtaining Emergency Protective Orders (EPOs), and securing the release of medical records

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