When Laws Meant to Protect Domestic Violence Victims Fall Short, the Consequences Can Be Devastating Reports Bloomberg Law

A year-long Bloomberg Law investigation reveals how domestic violence policies can put the people they are designed to protect at risk.

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Laws designed to protect survivors of domestic violence carry a fundamental promise: safety and accountability. But when those protections fail, the consequences can be devastating. A year-long investigation by Bloomberg Law found that mandatory arrest policies can backfire, leading to harmful outcomes for dozens of victims when officers must make quick decisions in complex, volatile situations.

In about half of U.S. states, laws pressure police to make arrests in domestic violence cases, with the goal of preventing violence from escalating. The stakes are profound: More than 11,400 people were murdered by their partners between 2020 and 2024, according to the FBI.