In the wake of the Lauren McCluskey slaying at the University of Utah in October 2018, questions remain regarding the contributing factors leading to the untimely death of this college athlete given the federal regulations in place which are designed to provide assistance to victims of intimate partner violence and stalking (IPV/S). This case study assesses the role that case management and victim advocacy played in this instance of IPV/S in a campus setting. Holistic case management is the cornerstone of threat assessment and management, both during and after the initial indication of a potential threat. To successfully manage threat cases, timely and effective communication is required. To this end, poor case management and victim advocacy can be seen as contributing factors that led to the death of Lauren McCluskey.
Public Significance StatementThis case study demonstrates the importance of threat assessment and victim safety planning for intimate partner violence and stalking cases on college campuses. Universities receiving federal funding have a legal responsibility under Title IX to keep members of their community safe from internal and external threats of violence. In order to safeguard campus communities, all students, faculty, and staff must receive regular training on intimate partner violence and intimate partner stalking, be knowledgeable about resources, what they can do to protect themselves, and must furthermore promote a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility.