Evaluation of Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies for Domestic Violence Cases in the State College, Pennsylvania, Police Department, 1999-2000 (ICPSR 3166)

Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

This project was an 18-month long research-practitioner partnership to conduct a process evaluation of the State College Police Department's implementation of a grant to encourage arrest policies for domestic violence. As part of this grant, the police department sought to improve case tracking and services to victims by developing new specialized positions for domestic violence, including: (1) a domestic violence arrest coordinator from within the State College Police Department who was responsible for monitoring case outcomes through the courts and updating domestic violence policies and training, (2) a victims service attorney from Legal Services who was responsible for handling civil law issues for domestic violence victims, including support, child custody, employment, financial, consumer, public benefits, and housing issues, and (3) an intensive domestic violence probation officer from the Centre County Probation and Parole Department who was responsible for providing close supervision and follow-up of batterers. Researchers worked with practitioners to assess the development of newly-created positions to better serve domestic violence victims, evaluate performance of personnel in these positions, and examine activities associated with the development of a systemwide, inter-agency database. In addition to the development of these new positions, the police department also sought to improve how officers handled domestic violence cases through a two-day training program. The evaluation conducted pre- and post-training assessments of all personnel training in 1999 and conducted follow-up surveys to assess the long-term impact of training. The general goals of the process evaluation were to assess how and to what extent the State College Police Department's proposed activities were implemented as planned, based on the rationale that such activities would enhance the potential for increasing victim safety and perpetrator accountability systemically. However, this evaluation, as a process model, was not designed to test whether the proposed activities actually increased victim safety and perpetrator accountability (which would be appropriate goals in an impact evaluation).

Study Design View help for Study Design

Researchers worked with practitioners to develop databases suitable for monitoring service provision by the three newly-created positions for domestic violence cases. Major categories of data collected on the victim tracking form (Parts 1 and 2) included location of initial contact, type of initial contact, referral source, reason for initial contact, service/ consultation provided at initial contact, meetings, and referrals out. Major categories of data collected on the offender tracking form (Part 3) included location of initial contact, type of initial contact, referral source, reason for initial contact, service/consultation provided, charges, sentence received, relationship between the victim and perpetrator, marital status, children in the home, referrals out, presentencing investigation completed, prior criminal history, and reason for termination. For Part 4, surveys were administered to law enforcement personnel participating in a two-day domestic violence training program. Surveys were administered both before and after the training program and focused on knowledge about domestic violence policies and protocols, attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence, and the background and experience of the officers. Within six months after the training, the same participants were contacted to complete a follow-up survey. This survey included questions about domestic violence incidents the officers encountered at work, how they worked with non-law enforcement agencies, and input on future training.

Universe View help for Universe

Parts 1-3: All domestic violence victims and offenders in State College, Pennsylvania, between 1999 and 2000. Part 4: All law enforcement officers participating in domestic violence training from the State College Police Department in 1999.

Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation

Data Source View help for Data Source

Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)

Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

Variables in Parts 1-3 include location and type of initial and follow-up contacts, reasons for initial and follow-up contacts, referral sources, and types of services offered at initial and follow-up contacts. In Parts 1 and 2, types of services provided include reporting abuse, filing a Protection from Abuse order, legal representation, and assistance with court procedures. In Part 3, types of services provided include pre-sentence investigation, placement on supervision, and assessment and evaluation. Part 3 also includes variables on the family and living situation of offenders, as well as prior criminal history. Variables in Part 4 measured how well officers knew domestic violence arrest policies, their attitudes toward abused women and how to handle domestic violence cases, and their opinions about training. Demographic variables in Part 4 include age, sex, race, education, and years in law enforcement.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

Parts 1-3: Not applicable. Part 4: The pre- and post-training surveys had response rates of 100 percent and the follow-up survey had a response rate of 56 percent.

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

Several Likert-type scales were used in Part 4.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2001-12-14

Version History View help for Version History