National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women

The mission of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women (NCDBW) is to secure justice for battered women charged with crimes related to their battering and prevent further victimization of arrested, convicted, or incarcerated battered women.

The National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women is a resource and advocacy center that provides information and other kinds of support to battered women charged with crimes and to their defense teams. We maintain a Resource Library of relevant articles, case law, litigation materials, and statutes; coordinate a national network of advocates; and conduct community and professional training seminars.

Our staff works with members of a battered woman's defense team — defense attorneys, expert witnesses, battered women's advocates, investigators, and the woman herself — identifying defense strategies, providing relevant case law and examples of litigation materials, locating expert witnesses when needed/requested, and helping to identify support networks for women who are facing trial or whose cases are on appeal.