Citation

Ward-Lasher A, Messing JT, Hart B. Soc. Work 2017; 62(3): 211-218.

Affiliation

Allison Ward-Lasher, MSW, is a doctoral student and research assistant, and Jill Theresa Messing, MSW, PhD, is associate professor, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix. Bill Hart, MPA, is senior policy analyst, Morrison Institute/Arizona State University, Phoenix.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, National Association of Social Workers)

DOI

10.1093/sw/swx023

PMID

28510707

Abstract

Risk-informed collaborative police-social service interventions are an emerging strategy intended to enhance offender accountability and victim-survivors' safety in intimate partner violence (IPV) cases. These interventions use risk assessment to determine appropriate interventions and enhance the police response for dangerous offenders by engaging in collaboration with social work advocates. Because little is known about the responsiveness of police officers to risk-informed collaborative interventions, this study examines police officer (N = 544) attitudes toward IPV risk assessment and collaboration with social workers. The majority of police officers did not believe a social worker would be helpful at the scene of an IPV incident. However, those who agreed that a social worker would be helpful were more likely to be knowledgeable about the dynamics of IPV. Officers who believed risk assessment was important were more likely to believe that the police response to IPV is necessary. Finally, officers' perceived knowledge about risk for homicide was not consistently associated with actual knowledge about IPV. These findings suggest a need for knowledgeable social workers to collaborate with police, particularly in high-risk cases, and to offer training for officers on risk factors for homicide, coercive control, and misperceptions about IPV.

© 2017 National Association of Social Workers.

Language: en

Keywords

attitudes; interdisciplinary collaboration; intimate partner violence; police; risk assessment