Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section

The Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section (SODV) has responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of a wide variety of cases brought in D.C. Superior Court involving intrafamily offenses (more commonly known as “domestic violence”), sexual abuse of children and adults, child physical abuse, sex and labor trafficking, voyeurism, stalking, unlawful publication of illicit images, violations of the D.C. Sex Offender Registration Act laws, and other offenses.  SODV members work closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies and community organizations on issues related to domestic violence, sexual abuse, trafficking, and other forms of crimes against children, including conducting training on relevant topics. 

    SODV has three units: Domestic Violence and Sex Offense Misdemeanors, Domestic Violence and Child Physical Abuse Felonies, and Felony I Sex Offenses.  All units operate under a “vertical prosecution” model, where the AUSA and victim advocate are assigned to the case from beginning to end, working closely with the victim from the beginning to develop a relationship of trust that lasts through the pendency of the case (and sometimes beyond).

Domestic Violence and Sex Offense Misdemeanors

    Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Caseload:  Misdemeanor Domestic Violence AUSAs handle an enormous volume of cases including simple assault, destruction of property, threats, weapons charges, stalking, and violations of civil protection orders.

    Misdemeanor Specialized Caseload:  Experienced misdemeanor AUSAs are selected to handle a specialized caseload of misdemeanor sexual abuse, child physical abuse, voyeurism, stalking, and sex offender registration cases.

Felony Domestic Violence & Child Physical Abuse

    Felony Domestic Violence and Child Physical Abuse AUSAs handle the most serious felony domestic violence assaults. Most of the cases involve shootings, stabbings, strangulation, kidnapping, arson, chronic abuse over significant periods of time, and/or serious bodily injury. They also handle cases involving the unlawful publication of illicit images, felony stalking, and voyeurism.  Finally, these AUSAs also handle cases involving the physical abuse of infants and children.  

Felony I Sex Offenses

    Senior SODV Felony 1 AUSAs handle the most serious sexual abuse cases (involving both adult and child victims). They also partner with AUSAs in the Office’s Criminal Division on federal cases involving hands-on sexual abuse, including interstate kidnapping and rape, sex trafficking of children and adults, and other forms of exploitation of children.  These AUSAs undergo a significant amount of specialized training and develop expertise in such areas as forensic interviewing of children, DNA evidence, toxicological evidence, the medical, psychological, and neurological aspects of abuse, and effectively and sensitively interviewing and working with traumatized victims.

SODV Initiatives

    Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative

     This Initiative was created in 2018 in collaboration between SODV and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit and Youth and Family Services Division. The purpose of the Initiative is to reinvestigate unsolved sexual assault cases involving adult and child victims and bring charges where appropriate. Investigations focus on the most violent serial offenders and cases that would benefit from advanced forensic testing, testing of secondary items and retesting of evidence items.   The Initiative has solved scores of stranger sexual assaults and indicted multiple “John Doe” DNA profiles responsible for assaults on numerous victims.

    Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Initiative

    In 2019, SODV created and launched this Initiative to strengthen expertise within the Office on the multifaceted issues surrounding the very serious national and local issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to allow these experts to serve as a resource within and outside the office. This Initiative is spearheaded by a Felony 1 AUSA, who handles a hybrid caseload involving sexual and physical IPV cases and co-chairs certain IPV homicides and federal cases.  The AUSA Coordinator also collaborates with community partners to develop new strategies to address IPV and serves as the Office’s point person for IPV-related community engagement and committees; legislative efforts; governmental, non-governmental, judicial, and office training; and other projects and outreach requiring expertise on IPV issues.