College of Arts and Sciences
Public Safety Institute Unveils Plan to Tackle Domestic Violence
Monday, 20 July 2026 - At a forum Friday morning at the FedEx Center at Shelby Farms, the University of Memphis Public Safety Institute (PSI) unveiled a new strategic plan to tackle domestic violence in Memphis and throughout Shelby County.
The PSI has been serving as the convener of a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to domestic violence through a grant from the TN Office of Criminal Justice Programs. The CCR is composed of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocacy groups, healthcare providers, and community-based non-profit service providers.
The PSI is an interdisciplinary part of the University of Memphis community committed to identifying and advancing best practices in the field of public safety through applied research. It is housed in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy.
"The UofM PSI is playing a key role in creating and maintaining the partnerships necessary to address domestic violence effectively. We hope this strategic plan will guide domestic violence responses to better serve victims and handle their abusers appropriately."
While overall violent crime is down significantly, domestic violence continues to be a major violent crime challenge. According to data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), in 2025, there were over 16,000 reported domestic violence offenses in Shelby County, with over 14,000 of those in the city of Memphis. During the first half of this year, according to preliminary data from the TBI, almost 8,000 domestic violence offenses have been reported countywide, with almost 7,000 in Memphis. And over half of reported domestic violence aggravated assaults involve firearms.
For each of the eight strategies making up the plan, the PSI is seeking to identify an entity responsible for taking the lead in implementation, with other entities making up an implementation team for each strategy.
Following are the eight strategies in the plan, along with an indication whether a lead entity for implementation has been identified:
- Implement and share with appropriate entities an electronic lethality assessment protocol (LAP) to help determine the level of danger facing victims. LEAD: YWCA
- Establish and maintain a reinvigorated domestic violence rapid response team. LEAD: U.S. Attorney's Office
- Obtain funding for shelter and housing repairs, including funding for construction of additional emergency housing. LEAD: TBD
- Change state law to allow judicial discretion on a case-by-case basis to impose a reasonable wait period before a dismissed domestic violence case can be expunged. LEAD: Memphis Shelby Crime Commission
- Address the imbalance in the level of representation for offenders and victims in order of protection hearings. LEAD: TBD
- Increase transparency in the dissemination of domestic violence caseload data. LEAD: District Attorney's Office
- Increase coordination, collaboration, and timely responses to victims through the creation of a new family justice center. LEAD: TBD
- Target at-risk populations with domestic violence awareness education. LEAD: Memphis Area Women's Council
A key part of the current Safe Community Action Plan spearheaded by the Crime Commission is development of this strategic plan to address domestic violence.
"This strategic plan represents years of collaboration and thoughtful work by partners across Shelby County. While the strategies are important, their success will ultimately depend on the relationships, trust, and shared commitment of the people who carry them forward. Every organization has a role to play, but our shared responsibility is much bigger than any one agency. Our goal is simple: all survivors should experience one community working together on their behalf," said Jennifer Brinkman, director of the TN Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Brinkman served as keynote speaker at the forum.
"The UofM PSI is playing a key role in creating and maintaining the partnerships necessary to address domestic violence effectively. We hope this strategic plan will guide domestic violence responses to better serve victims and handle their abusers appropriately," said Dr. Amaia Iratzoqui, research director of the PSI.
"Having a system of accountability as we move forward is important to the success of the strategic plan. For each strategy, we will develop key data points to measure what success we are having," said Bill Gibbons, executive director of the PSI.
Within the next few days, the full strategic plan will be on the PSI's website and on the Crime Commission's website.