Citation

Messing JT, Campbell JC, Ward-Lasher A, Brown S, Patchell B, Wilson JS. Policing (Bradford) 2016; 39(1): e0094.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing)

DOI

10.1108/PIJPSM-08-2015-0094

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE

To examine the differential use of the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) - an evidence-informed, collaborative police-social service intervention - across female victim-survivors of intimate partner violence in 4 police jurisdictions in Oklahoma.

Design/methodology/approach

Women visited by the police during the study period participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Logistic regression was utilized to examine what factors impacted implementation of the intervention.

Findings

There was differential use of the intervention based on the following: jurisdiction, severe violence at the incident, perpetrator's use of a weapon ever in the relationship, PTSD symptomology, and women's prior protective actions and utilization of domestic violence advocacy services.
Research limitations/implications

Future research should examine the decision making process of survivors and police officers to better elucidate the meaning behind these statistical relationships.
Practical implications

PTSD education should be an integral part of police training on domestic violence. In addition, officers should be trained to recognize less injurious, but also damaging, forms of intimate partner violence, such as verbal abuse and coercive control.
Originality/value

Previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of the LAP. It is important to understand how the intervention is applied in order to better understand who is most assisted by the intervention and what training or education could be beneficial for officers providing the intervention.