NCJ Number
181214
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 1998 Pages: 351-370
Date Published
1998
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Surveys of police officers and hospital emergency personnel and a case series of victims treated in five large accident and emergency departments in Wales provided information on the impact of interagency cooperation on the detection of violence and the provision of victim services.
Abstract
The research took place in 1996. The study tested the hypotheses that poor liaison hinders the detection of violence, that the roles of emergency personnel are concerned with respect to victim support and cooperation with the criminal justice system, that confidentiality is the excuse for not involving other agencies, and that emergency medical personnel lack time during peak periods to address these issues. Data came from semi-structured self-report questionnaires that received a response from 68 percent of beat officers, 65 percent of 40 traffic officers, 76 percent of 25 CID officers, 68 percent of medical personnel in the 5 accident and emergency departments in South East Wales. Results revealed almost no knowledge of existing formal guidance among medical and police practitioners who deal directly with victims. Most of the injured persons were transported from bars and the street to the emergency department, where, for long periods, they became trapped in a medical setting dominated by the need to treat physical injuries. This situation prevented medical personnel from reporting offenses. Efforts to preserve confidentiality meant that medical personnel ignored the circumstances and psychological impact of injury and the risk of further injury. Thus, they did not consider the roles of other agencies. This narrow focus contrasted with the instincts. Findings suggested the existence of extensive opportunities ethically to improve the rates of crime detection and access to victim services. Tables and 18 references (Author abstract modified)