Perceptions of Victim Advocates and Predictors of Service Referral Among Law Enforcement Personnel

• Author: Alexander H. Updegrove,Leana Allen Bouffard,Alondra D. Garza,Cortney A. Franklin,Amanda Goodson
• Published date: 01 December 2020
• Date: 01 December 2020
• DOI: 10.1177/1557085120939658
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085120939658

Feminist Criminology

2020, Vol. 15(5) 611 –633

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/1557085120939658

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Article

Perceptions of Victim

Advocates and Predictors of

Service Referral Among Law

Enforcement Personnel

Amanda Goodson1, Alondra D. Garza2,

Cortney A. Franklin2, Alexander H. Updegrove3,

and Leana Allen Bouffard4

Abstract

Limited research exists on police officers’ service provision for sexual and domestic

violence survivors after they formally report. This study used surveys from 452

commissioned officers at an urban police department in one of the five largest and

most diverse U.S. cities to examine police perceptions of victim advocates, self-

reported frequency of referral, and predictors of service referral among police.

Findings revealed officers were relatively likely to provide referrals and held somewhat

favorable attitudes of advocates. Knowledge of services and positive perceptions of

advocates increased the frequency of service referral to victims. Implications and

future research directions are discussed.

Keywords

police, law enforcement, service referral, perceptions of victim advocates, sexual and

domestic violence

Introduction

Gender violence is common, produces long-term negative consequences for victims,

and has historically been downplayed by the criminal justice system. Domestic vio-

lence (DV) was historically framed as a “private” matter that did not require formal

1Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

2Sam Houston State University, USA

3University of North Texas, USA

4Iowa State University, USA

Corresponding Author:

Amanda Goodson, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth

University, 1001 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23284, USA.

Email: agoodson21@gmail.com

939658FCXXXX10.1177/1557085120939658Feminist CriminologyGoodson et al.

research-article2020

612 Feminist Criminology 15(5)

intervention (Martin, 1975). Social change was heavily influenced by paternalism and

enforcement strategies that limited victim agency by implementing mandatory arrest

and no-drop prosecution policies (Lutze & Symons, 2003). Similarly, shortcomings in

response to sexual assault (SA) have been demonstrated through a national backlog of

untested forensic medical exams in U.S. cities (Campbell et al., 2017) and high rates

of case attrition (Morabito et al., 2019). Also, SA victims who have contacted police

have reported experiencing disbelief and stigma, producing secondary victimization

and discouraging victim cooperation (Campbell, 2008; Lorenz et al., 2019; Maddox

et al., 2011; Patterson, 2011a, 2011b).

Police have regular contact with DV and SA victims and possess the ability to influ-

ence case processing (Campbell, 2008; Maddox et al, 2011; Patterson, 2011a, 2011b).

Moreover, scholars have argued that police may draw upon existing frameworks or

schema to inform decisions surrounding the need for intervention (Robinson, 2000;

Stalans & Finn, 1995; Watson et al., 2014). Schema theory explores how individuals

make decisions and interpret events based on external factors that shape an individu-

al’s frames of reference (Rumelhart, 1984; Rumelhart & Ortony, 1977; Taylor &

Crocker, 1981). These influences include cultural myths perpetuated by a patriarchal

society that blames victims of gender violence and neutralizes perpetrator behavior

(Burt, 1980; Koss et al., 1994). Among police, schemata are shaped by officers’

broader socialization, academy training, and prior experiences (Watson et al., 2014).

An officer’s schema about an SA or DV incident, for example, could compel them to

determine whether they should activate the criminal justice system or informally

respond through mediation or service referral. Of particular importance is understand-

ing officer decisions to make a service referral, as direct resource provision can miti-

gate victim trauma and encourage participation in the criminal justice system (Camacho

& Alarid, 2008; Campbell, 2008; Dawson & Dinovitzer, 2001). Thus, schema theory

may aid in understanding the importance that police place on providing service refer-

ral to DV and SA victims.

Using schema theory as a theoretical framework to understand decision making, the

present study examined police officers’ intentions to provide service referral for DV

and SA victims. The study used surveys from a sample of 452 participants commis-

sioned at a sizeable urban police agency located in one of the five most populous and

diverse U.S. cities. This builds upon existing police decision making and gender vio-

lence research by: (1) assessing police perceptions of victim advocates; (2) determin-

ing the frequency of service referral to survivors; and (3) identifying predictors of

service referral.

Schema Theory & Police Response to Domestic and

Sexual Violence

Nearly half of DV and SA victims describe their experiences with police as negative

(Campbell, 2008; Erez & Belknap, 1998; Monroe et al., 2005; Stephens & Sinden,

2000). Adverse responses from officers have included reactions such as disbelief,

judgment toward a victim’s attire and sexual history, and questions surrounding