Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research: For Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Judges
Published June 2009
Chapter 5. Law Enforcement Responses
Section 3 — Do they influence victim behavior?
Specialized police response is more likely to see victims leave their abusers sooner — within four months, compared to an average of 14 months for victims not receiving specialized police response. Specialized police response also results in higher victim reporting of reabuse. Finally, victims handled by specialized police response are more likely to secure protective orders against their abusers. [130] Specialized police services such as serving protective orders and assisting in safety planning also influence victim behavior. By contrast, victim services alone have not been found to be associated with victims leaving abusers, although this may also be due to the quality of the victim services studied. [172, 220]
5-2 – Do they influence prosecutions and convictions of abuse suspects?
5-4 – Do they reduce reabuse?
