Citation

Kenney DJ, Reuland M. J. Crim. Justice 2002; 30(5): 355-368.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0047-2352(02)00151-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While abortion conflict and violence reached a climax during the late 1970s and the 1980s, it continues to affect numerous stakeholders, including health care providers, patients, protestors, law enforcement officials, members of the media, and representatives of the criminal justice system. Due to the potential severity of the conflict, the threat to public safety, and the variety of stakeholders affected by this issue, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) was supported by a grant from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation to examine the actual nature and scope of the problem from the perspective of the police. In doing so, this project focused on the sources and consequences of abortion- and clinic-related conflict and violence, with a goal of developing police strategies to ensure the safety of all stakeholders. The study took a neutral approach, balancing input from individuals on all sides of the abortion issue. The research consisted of three phases: a national survey of police agencies, case studies of sites with experience in dealing with this conflict, and a series of focus groups bringing to the debate a cross-section of stakeholders from around the country. This article presents the results of the national survey.