by Alissa Heydari
On February 28, Vanderbilt Law School welcomed more than 50 prosecutors, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and law students from across the country for a groundbreaking discussion on the future of domestic violence prosecution. The event, Domestic Violence Prosecution Innovation Day, was co-hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP) and the University of Connecticut’s Analysis, Research, and Modeling of Systems (UConn ARMS) initiative, with support from Arnold Ventures.
While many District Attorneys’ offices continue to rely on traditional methods—such as issuing protective orders or compelling victim testimony—there is often little data to confirm whether these measures truly improve victim safety. The convening at Vanderbilt Law School was designed to change that, fostering a new approach that integrates evidence and research into prosecutorial decision-making.
“We urgently need evidence-based prosecution, especially in domestic violence cases,” said Alissa Marque Heydari, Vanderbilt Law Professor and Director of VPOPP. “Far too often, prosecutors operate on instinct, doing things the way they’ve always been done. This convening provided an opportunity for prosecutors to explore research-backed strategies that actually protect survivors of domestic violence and hold abusers accountable.”
The event featured collaborative workshops in which prosecutors pitched innovative ideas and received real-time feedback from researchers and experts. Topics ranged from studying domestic violence-related homicide rates in specific jurisdictions to exploring the viability of restorative justice programs.
By integrating research into the prosecution process, these organizations aim to develop new, proven methods to enhance victim safety and strengthen communities.
“Our goal was to create a space where prosecutors could challenge traditional assumptions, ask difficult questions, and build partnerships with researchers who can help measure the impact of their work,” said Heydari. “Everyone who was part of this event brings different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. The one thing we share is a desire to repair the damage that domestic violence does to our families and communities, and we believe that a more sophisticated and innovative application of the law can help do that.”
About the Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy
The Vanderbilt Project on Prosecution Policy (VPOPP) is a nonpartisan network of prosecutors, researchers, students, and other stakeholders dedicated to improving individual and collective outcomes in the criminal justice system. The Project supports communities that traditionally have been overlooked by national policy centers. Through trainings, research, conferences, and technical assistance, VPOPP engages criminal justice leaders, particularly prosecutors in the South, to develop and implement policies and programs that reduce unnecessary incarceration and promote public safety. VPOPP is housed in Vanderbilt Law’s Criminal Justice Program.
About UConn ARMS
The University of Connecticut’s Analysis, Research, and Modeling of Systems (ARMS) initiative applies data analysis and research to improve justice system outcomes and inform evidence-based policy decisions.
