Complexities of the Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence: Police Officers’ Perspectives on the Challenges of Keeping Families Safe

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052093442
Author(s):  
Michael D. Saxton ◽  
Peter G. Jaffe ◽  
Myrna Dawson ◽  
Anna-Lee Straatman ◽  
Laura Olszowy
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Managing Risk ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

Through interviews with police officers ( n = 15), the present study examined police perspectives toward their response to intimate partner violence (IPV). Qualitative analyses indicated several challenges police officers face in responding to IPV, including barriers at the systemic, organizational, and individual levels. Police officers in the current study also identified recommendations toward overcoming barriers. Overall, results continue to underscore a lack of police consistency toward addressing IPV, including inconsistent approaches to assessing and managing risk posed to families. Conversely, qualitative results point to several recommendations that heavily involve collaboration between community and justice partners. Implications for future research and practice include further examination of the identified recommendations, a continued focus on developing training that addresses the risk posed to high-risk families, and further development of collaborative approaches toward the prevention and intervention of IPV.

scholarly journals Understanding the Use of Violence Among Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism

Partner Abuse ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise A. Hines ◽  
Emily M. Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Substance Abusers ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Aggressive Behaviors ◽  
Violent Relationships ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Intimate Terrorism

Researchers in the field of intimate partner violence (IPV) are paying increasing levels of attention to the notion that members of aggressive and violent relationships cannot always be dichotomized as innocent victims versus blameworthy perpetrators; nonetheless, no research has documented characteristics of IPV victims that may predict their use of abusive and aggressive behaviors in response to their partners’ IPV. This study fills this gap and is unique because it uses a sample of 302 men who sustained intimate terrorism from their female partners and sought help. Results showed that victims who used physical IPV, in comparison with victims who did not, were younger and were more likely to abuse alcohol. In addition, in comparison with victims who used minor physical IPV, victims who used severe physical IPV were more likely to use—and use more frequently—other forms of IPV, and they were more likely to be substance abusers. Results are discussed in terms of possible theoretical implications, directions for future research, and practice implications.

scholarly journals Measuring intimate partner violence risk: A national survey of Canadian police officers

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
Michael D. Saxton ◽  
Peter G. Jaffe ◽  
Anne-Lee Straatman ◽  
Laura Olszowy ◽  
Myrna Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Violence Risk

This study examined the role of police in addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) and the type of strategies they apply across Canada based on a national survey of officers. The focus was on an examination of the types of structured tools Canadian police officers report using in their risk assessment strategies. The results suggest that Canadian police officers are reporting frequent engagement in risk assessments across jurisdictions. The survey findings indicate variability across provinces in the types of risk assessment tools police officers are using. Implications for future research include exploring specific provincial and territorial police risk assessment processes and the challenges in engaging in risk assessments.

scholarly journals Police are Influenced by Anchoring and Risk When Allocating Resources for Scenario-based Intimate Partner Violence Cases

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Mark R. Kebbell
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Risk Need Responsivity ◽  
Structured Professional Judgment ◽  
Risk Judgments

Sixty-six police officers were given four intimate partner violence (IPV) scenarios to rate for risk of future violence. At the start of the experiment, participants were provided with either a low-risk or high-risk “anchor” scenario of police attending an IPV incident. Next, participants were given three counterbalanced scenarios: high, medium, and low risk. Half the participants were given a structured professional judgment tool to guide their decisions. Participants given the low-risk anchor rated the following scenarios as being of greater risk than those given the high-risk anchor. Participants were consistent in identifying high-, medium-, and low-risk scenarios and the tool made no difference to these ratings. Participants were more confident in their higher risk judgments than their lower risk judgments. Officers distributed a disproportionately high amount of resources to the high-risk offenders and the results suggest that police officers can make decisions consistent with Risk-Need-Responsivity principles. However, anchoring effects and working in a context where violence is more severe and frequent has the potential to bias perceptions and make officers less sensitive to risk.

When the Cop Is the Victim: A Test of Target Congruence Theory on Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Experienced by Police Officers

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 3622-3642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Egbert Zavala
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Police Stress ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence Victimization ◽  
Congruence Theory

This study analyzed data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999 ( N = 753) to examine propositions derived from target congruence theory in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization experienced by police officers. Specifically, this study tested the influence of target vulnerability, target gratifiability, and target antagonism on IPV victimization. Results from logistic regression models showed that all three theoretical constructs positively and significantly predicted IPV victimization. Results, as well as the study’s limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.

Focal Concerns and Intimate Partner Violence Case Processing: Predicting Arrest Using a Stratified Random Sample of Police Case File Data

2021 ◽  
pp. 001112872110104
Author(s):  
Cortney A. Franklin ◽  
Leana A. Bouffard ◽  
Alondra D. Garza ◽  
Amanda Goodson
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Case File ◽  
Focal Concerns

Focal concerns has utility for explaining criminal justice decisions, including among police. At present, there is no research that has examined focal concerns and arrest decisions in non-sexual, intimate partner violence (IPV) cases. This study used a stratified random sample of 776 IPV incidents from an urban police department in one of the five largest and most diverse US cities to assess the effect of focal concerns on arrest. A multivariate binary logistic regression model demonstrated victim injury, suspect IPV and general criminal history, evidence, witnesses, victim preference for formal intervention, women victims, and intoxicated suspects predicted arrest. When the suspect was on scene, this was the strongest predictor of arrest. Implications and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Quality of life and risk of feminicide in women victims of intimate partner violence in Campinas

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Caicedo Roa ◽  
L Gabrielle Dalaqua ◽  
P Filizola ◽  
R Cordeiro
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Women Victims ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Introduction Violence against women is a public health problem with severe consequences. Most women in situations of domestic violence are emotionally involved and/or economically dependent of their intimate partners contributing to the perpetuation and acceptance of violence. Objectives 1) To characterize the women who join the Reference and Support Center for Women (Ceamo) in Campinas, Southeast Brazil. 2) To measure the quality of life in women victims of intimate partner violence 3) To determine the risk of feminicide. Methods The Ceamo is a public specialized service from the mayor of Campinas, it provides psychological, social and legal guidance to women in situations of gender violence. Inclusion criteria: Women attending Ceamo services, speaking Portuguese, age ≥18 years old and having experienced intimate partner violence. Measure instruments: Danger assessment Scale and WHOQOL-BREF. Results During the 11 months of the study, 78 new users were recruited. Average age 38.3 years old, mostly married/stable union, most of them with children (88%). 64% of women do not work and 36% live with the abusive partner. Prevalent types of violence suffered during by the victims in the last year were psychological n = 76, physical n = 62, moral n = 54 and sexual n = 23. The domain most affected in the assessment of quality of life was the environment (average 42% /100%) and psychological domain (42%/100%). 49% of women were classified with increased risk, 22% with severe risk and 1% with extreme risk of femicide. The questions with the most positive answers were those related to believing that the partner can kill her (77%), jealous of the partner (76%) and controlling behavior (73%), being followed/spied by the partner (67%) and threat death (65%). Conclusions The service in general receive very vulnerable women with low perception of their own quality of life, precarious material conditions and high risk of femicide. Key messages The women in domestic violence situation attended by the Ceamo service are at high risk of femicide. Service users have very low perception of their quality of life and poor social conditions.

scholarly journals Migrant Women’s Help-Seeking Decisions and Use of Support Resources for Intimate Partner Violence in China

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110001
Author(s):  
Ran Hu ◽  
Jia Xue ◽  
Xiying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Poisson Model ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sources Of Support

In China, women who domestically relocate from rural or less developed regions to major cities are at a higher risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) than their non-migrant counterparts. Few studies have focused on Chinese domestic migrant women’s help-seeking for IPV and their use of different sources of support. The present study aimed to identify factors that influence migrant women’s help-seeking decisions. In addition, we also examined factors that contribute to migrant women’s use of diverse sources of support for IPV. A sample of 280 migrant women victimized by IPV in the past year at the time of the survey was drawn from a larger cross-sectional study conducted in four major urban cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Using a multinomial logistic regression model and a zero-inflated Poisson model, we found that factors influencing migrant women’s help-seeking decisions and their use of diverse sources of support included socioeconomic factors, IPV type, relationship-related factors, knowledge of China’s first anti-Domestic Violence Law, and perception of the effectiveness of current policies. We discuss implications for future research and interventions.

Factors Associated With Police Decisions on Immediate Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 2993-3010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merete Berg Nesset ◽  
Johan Håkon Bjørngaard ◽  
Jim Aage Nøttestad ◽  
Richard Whittington ◽  
Cecilie Lynum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Lethal Violence ◽  
Emergency Situations

Police officers are often the first responders to intimate partner violence. The aim of the study was to examine the association between structured police assessments on-site in cases of intimate partner violence, and decisions about immediate arrest of the perpetrator and/or relocation of the victim. Data were extracted from police reports on 124 emergency visits in cases of intimate partner violence perpetrated by men toward women. Six out of totally 15 items of the intimate partner violence risk assessment measure B-SAFER were used by the front line police officers as the basis for decisions on whether or not to arrest the perpetrator or relocate the victim. The six items: perpetrator violent acts, violent threats or thoughts, escalation of violence, substance use problems, mental health problems, and breach of no-contact order, were selected on the basis of their utility in emergency situations. There were increased odds of arrest on-site if the perpetrator was physically violent (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-7.7) or had substance problems (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI = [1.0- 5.2]). There were increased odds of victim relocation if the perpetrator had mental health problems (AOR = 7.4, 95% CI = [2.4-23.1]) or if children were present on-site (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI = [1.1- 8.6]). In contrast, escalation of violence was associated with reduced odds of the perpetrator being arrested (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI = [0.1- 0.9]) or the victim being relocated (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI = [0.1- 1.3]). The finding that the police did not immediately respond to escalation, potentially signaling lethal violence needs to be addressed.

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