Goals of Police Officers in Intimate Partner Violence

It is the role of a police officer to prevent violent behaviors including intimate partner violence (López-Ossorio et al., 2017). In this case, officer Jones is required to prevent violence between the couple he found fighting. In such a situation, he is required to apply the actuarial tools that determine the risk of occurrence of more violence after the complaint at hand (police recidivism). According to López-Ossorio et al., police recidivism requires an officer to take into account the risk, as well as, protective indicators, which are observable irrespective of the absentia of behavioral assessment experts. 

While dealing with the case, Officer Jones needs to understand the myths and realities of domestic violence. One of the major myths is that domestic violence is a ‘family matter’ that the third party should not interfere with (Falcon & Lopez, 2014). However, the reality is domestic violence is against the law and hence it is not only the police’s duty but the community too. In this case, Officer Jones should understand that assault within the family is similar to assaults outside the family.

Another major myth is that only women are abused by men. However, current statistics illustrate that 85% of domestic abuse victims are women and 95% are male perpetrators. Another reality is that there are women victimized by women, men victimized by men, and men victimized by women in relationships (Emerge, 2018). Based on this, the police should evaluate the scenario where although the woman is screaming, the man is drunk and on the floor. The woman is standing on him and stating “she hit me”. Hence, although the myth is that only women are victims, the reality of the case is that the man is the victim and not the woman.

References

Emerge. (2018). Myths and Realities of Domestic Violence. Emerge: Centre Against Domestic Abuse. Retrieved from https://law.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/myths_and_realities_of_domestic_abuse.pdf

Falcon, M., & Lopez, A. (2014). How We Make Her Stay: Understanding Myths and Misconceptions Regarding Domestic Violence. Ideas And Research You Can Use: VISTAS.

López-Ossorio, J., González Álvarez, J., Buquerín Pascual, S., García, L., & Buela-Casal, G. (2017). Risk factors related to intimate partner violence police recidivism in Spain. International Journal Of Clinical And Health Psychology, 17(2), 107-119. doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2016.12.001