Forensic Evidence and Victim Support in Domestic Violence Cases: Practice in Taraba and Adamawa States

Domestic violence cases present complex forensic and victim support challenges, requiring coordinated responses from health, legal, and social service professionals. This study examines forensic evidence practices and victim support services in domestic violence cases handled in Taraba and Adamawa States between 2020 and 2024. A professional practice-oriented qualitative design was used, drawing on interviews with twenty-five healthcare workers, social workers, and legal aid officers, as well as review of thirty domestic violence case files from state magistrate courts. The study assesses the quality of injury documentation, availability of forensic medical examination services, and the integration of victim support into the forensic investigation process. Findings reveal that forensic medical examinations are conducted in fewer than forty percent of domestic violence cases reaching the courts, and that standardised injury documentation tools are not in use in any of the sampled facilities. Victim attrition from the criminal justice process was high, with sixty-eight percent of cases discontinued before prosecution due to withdrawal of victim cooperation. The study attributes this attrition partly to inadequate emotional and practical support for victims during the forensic investigation process. Recommendations include the development of integrated domestic violence response centres in North East states, combining forensic examination services with legal aid and psychosocial support, and training healthcare workers in trauma-informed forensic evidence collection. Keywords: domestic violence, forensic evidence, victim support, Taraba State, Adamawa State.