Every day in the U.S. four women are murdered by an intimate partner, while eight children are killed by a family member or caretaker.

Experts say this number proves that domestic violence is continuing to be a problem and one that needs to be fixed quickly.

"If we had a so-called foreign terrorist coming in and killing 12 family members every day, we'd fire up the F-16s," said Sarah Buel, a domestic violence expert. "We'd call out the National Guard. We'd probably reinstate the draft. We want that same kind of serious response."

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office has been working the past few years to update legislation dealing with domestic violence. Making sure law enforcement officers are up-to-date on those changes is one reason for hosting the conference. Another is making sure they are prepared when they enter those situations.

"I can't imagine a more dangerous position to put a law enforcement officer in than to go into a home where a fight occurred between two people and then one turns on the law enforcement officer and the other turns on his back," said Attorney General Jim Hood. "It's a dangerous situation and you have to train law enforcement how to recognize the principle aggressor, who to arrest, who to take out of that situation."

The Domestic Violence Division of the Mississippi's Attorney General's Office has developed a booklet to give to police officers to carry in their vehicles that creates a profile for law enforcement officers to help identify the type of people that may be more inclined to kill a spouse in a domestic violence situation. But Hood says it is just as important to see the other side of the coin.

"We're trying to get them prepared to better help victims and get them to understand where victims of domestic violence are coming from," Hood said.

More than 400 people are attending the two-day conference, something which Hood says shows the recognition that domestic violence is something that needs action.