Statewide Database to Track Domestic Violence

The law requires local authorities and the Attorney General's Office to create a statewide database.

The database will Include homicide and protective orders related to domestic violence. It will also make available any information about the relationship between domestic-violence victims and suspects.

"Any patterns that we can see from the data the state would collect would help us with our investigations," said Lt. John Parker of the Clayton Police Department.

Advocates hope this new law will help prevent deaths such as the murder of Rhonda Barnes. 

Police have arrested her ex-boyfriend Dennis Shaw for killing Barnes inside her Clayton home in 2006.

Barnes filed numerous police reports accusing Shaw of vandalizing her home and car. Two days before her death, she told police she feared for her life.

"Until there is evidence, there is not a lot we can do," Parker said.

Under the new law, the Attorney General's Office will annually report the database's findings to a legislative committee.

The N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence hopes that the new database will help push the General Assembly to make tougher penalties for people who violate protective orders.

"It will be more thorough for one thing, and this will give this a lot of credibility coming from the Attorney General's office as well," said Brodie.