Under PA 18-5, what is the officer's responsibility at the scene of a FV incident?

• A. Arrest the suspect and seize evidence.
• B. Provide medical treatment, right to file affidavit, trauma-informed care, and victim service information.
• C. Call for backup only.
• D. Take fingerprints of all present.

Answer: (B)

The main concept is how officers support victims at the scene of a family-violence incident. Under PA 18-5, the officer’s role at the scene centers on immediate victim safety and access to help rather than only on investigative tasks. This means ensuring medical treatment is available if there are injuries, and guiding the victim about their options to stay safe. The officer should inform the victim of their right to file an affidavit for a protective order, which is a legal path to protection. A trauma-informed approach is essential—recognizing the impact of violence, using careful, nonjudgmental communication, and avoiding re-traumatization while the scene is assessed. Providing information about victim services—advocacy, counseling, shelters, and how to access these resources—helps the survivor receive ongoing support beyond the immediate incident. Taken together, these steps reflect a victim-centered response that prioritizes safety, autonomy, and access to resources.

Other actions like pursuing arrests or seizing evidence, calling for backup in isolation, or fingerprinting everyone present address investigation or procedures but do not capture the primary duties outlined for the scene by this statute, which emphasize supporting and informing the victim first.