Proactive Police Contact with Domestic Violence Victims
Problems addressed
Violence against women
Effectiveness

No Effect

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No Effect

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Life periods served
People of all ages
Where the program was applied
Residence / home
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a practice whereby police officers proactively contact victims of domestic violence after protective measures have been put in place. The aim is to reduce aggressor recidivism and/or increase victim safety.
Proactive contact monitors compliance with the protective measure and instructs the victim on the conditions of the measure and how to collect evidence and mobilize law enforcement in the event of its violation.

Impact evaluations

An impact assessment showed that increased contact with law enforcement did not make the victim safer or prevent recidivism (as measured by the rearrest rate) on the part of the offender. However, the victims in the treatment group were more likely to report harassment and/or threats from their offender than the victims in the control group. Therefore, proactive police contact with victims may not prevent reoffending, but it may increase victims’ awareness of their rights [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Brame, R., Kaukinen, C., Gover, A. R. & Lattimore, P. K. (2015). No-Contact Orders, Victim Safety, and Offender Recidivism in Cases of Misdemeanor Criminal Domestic Violence: A Randomized Experiment. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(2), 225–249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-014-9242-x

Information source