NIJ Journal Issue No. 250

• NCJ Number: 196543
• Journal: National Institute of Justice Journal Issue: 250 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 1-53
• Date Published: November 2003
• Length: 53 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Issue Overview

Annotation

This journal focuses on homicides committed by the victim's spouse or other intimate partner.

Abstract

Women are most likely to be the victim in cases of intimate partner homicide. This collection of articles sheds new light on a type of crime that continues to have serious social consequences and to present challenges to law enforcement and health providers. An overview of the articles on intimate partner homicide is presented. A study on ways to help service providers lower the risk of abuse for domestic violence victims is described. Women in the study were much more likely to seek medical help or contact the police than to seek counseling or go to a service agency, suggesting that medical workers and police officers can play important roles in linking abused women to these services. The mix of intimate homicide with alcohol and drugs is also discussed. Researchers have found that increased substance use results in more severe violence, male perpetrators were more often problem drinkers, and female victims were less likely to use alcohol. The risk factors for intimate partner homicide are assessed. Despite certain limitations, the Danger Assessment Tool was found to reliably identify women that may be at risk of being killed by an intimate partner. The question of whether domestic violence services save lives is discussed. Policies and services designed to help victims of domestic violence appear to have two possible and opposing effects: either they decrease the abuse and risk of homicide, or they have the unintended consequence of increasing them. The last article on intimate partner homicide focuses on the practice of reviewing domestic violence deaths. Fatality reviews can reveal trends and may lead to changes to the system that could prevent future deaths. They may also enhance prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing the death tool from acts of domestic violence. And finally, the 30th anniversary of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service is celebrated with an overview of its services. The services include full text publications, abstracts database, online shopping, grants and funding opportunities, calendar of events, and links.