Victim Participation in Intimate Partner Violence Prosecution

Abstract

Are intimate partner violence (IPV) victims safer if they use the criminal justice system? Concerns about perpetrator retaliation, in the face of data that protection orders can reduce future harm, make it important to understand how victim utilization (calling 911, talking to the prosecutor, and proceeding with prosecution) affects subsequent safety. We hypothesized participation would improve victims' safety, measured by decreases in subsequent IPV-related 911 calls and/or emergency department visits. Findings support contact with the prosecutor's office was associated with reduction in police-reported IPV, regardless of the victim's wish to proceed. Policy implications support pro-prosecution strategies coupled with victim contact.

Testing the Utility of the Neural Network Model to Predict History of Arrest among Intimate Partner Violent Men

“…It is likely that additional sources of information, such as parole officers, family members and others who know the perpetrator, will increase our predictive ability as well. However, involving victims of crime in the criminal justice system may not warrant the increased risk to their safety [47].…”

Women’s Disengagement From Legal Proceedings for Intimate Partner Violence in Southern Spain: Variables Related to Legal Proceedings

“…Thirdly, according to Cerulli et al (2014), the victim needs not only protection, but also participation in the process of overcoming abuse, so the least satisfied victims are those whose preferences are not taken into account (Buzawa et al 2017), and the advice and support of the lawyer throughout the process may contribute to this participation. Receiving legal advice lets the women have more information about each step, about the impact of the final verdict, and about the eventual obstacles or protectors that may appear throughout the whole process.…”

Fifty Years After the 1967 Crime Commission Report

“…In court, DV victims are often viewed as “reluctant” or “uncooperative” witnesses (e.g., Cerulli et al., : 142). Cattaneo and Goodman () suggested that the process of DV prosecutions has more of an impact than the case outcomes on the perpetrators’ recidivism.…”

“…For example, Cerulli et al. () found that DV prosecutor–victim contact prior to the court case was the key to deterring police‐reported DV recidivism, regardless of whether the victim wanted the prosecutor to proceed with or drop charges. These findings have led to the development of specialized DV courts over the past few decades.…”