Each October, the City of Seattle’s Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault brings together partners across Seattle Municipal Court (SMC), the Seattle Police Department, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, and others throughout Seattle to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time dedicated to uplifting survivors, deepening community understanding, and recommitting to ending domestic violence.
This year’s event, “The Time Is Now: Centering Survivors in Our Work to End Domestic Violence,” drew robust attendance from Court staff engaged in the work and community organizations who work daily to support survivors’ safety. The event took place on Oct. 15 at Seattle City Hall.
A key moment in the program was the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Panel. Judge Catherine McDowall, who oversees DVIP cases at SMC, enriched the discussion with thoughtful, incisive questions that highlighted the complexity of assessing risk, tailoring treatment, and strengthening coordination across systems. Her engagement underscored the judiciary’s crucial role in ensuring that responses to domestic violence are both research-informed and survivor-centered.
SMC’s Siobhan Haggerty was a panelist and offered valuable insight into how the MDT functions—meeting twice monthly to review participant progress, assess risk, incorporate survivor perspectives, and recommend individualized treatment plans. Her presence reflected the Court’s commitment to collaborative interventions that prioritize safety and accountability.
The event also spotlighted the long-standing research partnership between SMC’s DVIP program and academics at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and the University of Washington, which began in 2019. UNO’s Dr. Tara Richards and her research team shared compelling findings from their outcome evaluation: DVIP completion is associated with 52% lower odds of DV recidivism compared to probation alone and similarly reduces nonviolent recidivism. Their analysis also showed that no participants were terminated for inability to pay fees, highlighting the program’s commitment to equity.
Former SMC Judge Adam Eisenberg—a champion of trauma-informed judicial practices—also spoke during the event, where he underscored the longstanding leadership at the court in shaping innovative, survivor-centered responses.
SMC has attended the City’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month events for many years and has played a central, consistent role in strengthening the City’s response to domestic violence. Through judicial leadership, cross‑system collaboration, and a commitment to research-driven practice, the Court continues to advance coordinated approaches that prioritize survivor safety, accountability, and meaningful change.
For more details on DVIP, see An Outcome Assessment of Seattle’s Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) – VVSRL.