Addressing the Peril
Abstract
In light of the findings from Fatal Peril, we hosted a statewide Roundtable in November 2024 to generate understanding and recommendations for six segments of California’s criminal legal system for cases involving survivors accused of IPV-related homicide: policing, prosecution, judging, defense practice, parole and corrections, and post-conviction relief and homicide liability. The Roundtable brought together diverse stakeholders from across the State, including formerly incarcerated survivors, advocates, experts on gender violence, law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, public and private defense attorneys, judges, parole and corrections leadership, and representatives from the State’s legislative and executive branches. Addressing the Peril: Seeking Better Legal Outcomes for Criminalized Survivors provides background legal and policy information, summarizes discussions that took place at the Roundtable, and offers concrete strategies and recommendations in each of the six areas: policing, prosecution, defense, judging, corrections and parole, and homicide liability and post-conviction remedies.