Interactions between Victims of Intimate Partner Violence and the Police: Women's Future Intentions to Contact the Polic

The purpose of this research is to examine whether the quality of police interactions affects women's willingness to re-contact the police for help with intimate partner violence (IPV). Existing research has highlighted women's interactions with the police during their prior IPV complaints and suggested that the interactions may influence their intentions to avoid or return to the police for subsequent violence. However, little research has identified this relationship. Using data obtained from the National Impact Evaluation of Victim Program Through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Program, this research uses several indicators of victim-police interactions. This research entails statistical analyses with a sample of 925 women who had been physically, sexually, and/or psychologically abused by an intimate partner and contacted the police about the abuse. The results suggest that the more women feel control over the responses and actions of police officers to their needs, the more likely they are willing to contact the police. The results also suggest that the more women perceive police as supportive in helping them and as effective in securing their safety, the more likely they are willing to re-contact the police. Finally, it is found that women's future intentions to contact the police for help with IPV are significantly diminished if they have ever been arrested as a result of calling the police. This research contributes by providing empirical evidence about the relationship between victim-police interactions and victims' re-utilization of the police. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed as well as suggestions for future research.