Improving coordinated responses for victims of intimate partner violence: law enforcement compliance with state-mandated intimate partner violence documentation

Violence Against Women. 2015 Jul;21(7):897-907. doi: 10.1177/1077801215584072. Epub 2015 Apr 29.

Abstract

New York State law mandates specific intimate partner violence (IPV) documentation under all circumstances meeting the enumerated relationship and crime criteria at the scene of a domestic dispute. Law enforcement compliance with this mandate is unknown. We reviewed law enforcement completion rates of Domestic Violence Incident Reports (DVIRs) and assessed correlations with individual or legal factors. Law enforcement officers filed DVIRs in 54% of the cases (n = 191), more often when injury occurred (p < .01) and the defendant had prior court contact (p < .05). The discussion explores policy implications and potential means to rectify the gap between mandated processes and implementation.

Keywords: abuse; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; law enforcement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Crime Victims
  • Documentation*
  • Domestic Violence / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Female
  • Government Regulation
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Law Enforcement*
  • Male
  • Mandatory Reporting*
  • New York
  • Police*
  • Public Policy
  • Rape / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Spouse Abuse* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • State Government
  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Young Adult