Domestic Violence & Police Response in New Hampshire
What survivors may experience when New Hampshire police respond to a DV call.
What Happens After Police Are Called for Relationship Violence
Scene Safety Steps
When police arrive after a relationship-violence call, they usually focus first on immediate safety.
- Check who is present, who is injured, and whether anyone needs urgent medical help.
- Separate people to hear what happened without others listening.
- Look for weapons or items that could be used to cause harm and remove them if needed.
- Decide whether anyone needs to be taken out of the home temporarily for safety.
- Take brief notes about what they see, hear, and are told.
Arrest Potential
Police responses and arrest rules can vary between provinces and territories, but some common factors often affect whether an arrest happens:
- Visible injuries or signs of struggle.
- Statements from the people involved and any witnesses.
- History of past calls to the same address or past reports.
- Existing protective or no-contact orders.
- Whether police believe someone is at ongoing risk of harm.
In many places, if police believe a criminal offence has likely happened in a relationship-violence context, they may be expected or strongly encouraged to arrest the person they believe caused the harm.
Report to Prosecutor
After an arrest, police usually prepare a report for a prosecutor (sometimes called Crown counsel or Crown attorney):
- They may record statements, photos of injuries or damage, and any medical or other records they can obtain.
- They send their report and recommended charges to the prosecutor’s office.
- The prosecutor decides whether to approve, change, or decline charges based on the evidence and public-interest considerations.
Prosecutors usually consider risk to the person who experienced harm, any children, and the wider community when deciding how to move forward.
Conditions of Release
If someone is arrested, they are not always kept in custody until trial. They may be released with conditions, either by police, a justice of the peace, or a judge. Conditions can vary, but may include:
- No-contact rules (no in-person, phone, text, social media, or third-party contact).
- Not going to certain places, such as the home, workplace, or school.
- Rules about alcohol or drug use in some cases.
- Requirements to attend court on specific dates.
- Living at a certain address or following curfews.
If the person released does not follow these conditions, police may be able to arrest them again and further charges can result.
Interaction With Protective Orders
In Canada, there can be different types of orders at the same time, for example:
- Criminal no-contact or “undertaking” / bail conditions.
- Civil or family-court protective, restraining, or no-contact orders.
- Child-protection or family-law orders about parenting time and exchanges.
Sometimes the conditions of these orders can overlap or appear to conflict. For example:
- A criminal no-contact condition may say there can be no communication at all.
- A family-court order might say the same people must communicate about children or attend exchanges.
In many situations, police will focus first on what the criminal order or release conditions say, but practices can differ by region and situation.