What can law enforcement do to better protect victims of domestic violence before it's too late?

Law enforcement faces resource limitations when protecting domestic violence victims. They can't assign every victim their own officer, but they do provide protective orders, connect victims with counselors and shelters, and make arrests when orders are violated. However, as the expert notes, protective orders are 'just a piece of paper' that determined offenders will ignore. The most effective solution is creating opportunities for victims to completely separate from their abusers, as removing them from dangerous situations is ultimately the best way to prevent violence from escalating to deadly levels.