Practice Note: Domestic Violence Advocacy and Response to Intimate Partner Homicide in the COVID-19 Era

• Author: Kelly Dunne,Cherra M. Mathis
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10887679221112037
• Published date: 01 November 2022
• Date: 01 November 2022
• Subject Matter: Special Issue Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679221112037

Homicide Studies

2022, Vol. 26(4) 333 –344

© 2022 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/10887679221112037

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Special Issue Article

Practice Note: Domestic

Violence Advocacy and

Response to Intimate Partner

Homicide in the COVID-19

Era

Kelly Dunne1 and Cherra M. Mathis2

Abstract

The global pandemic has changed how frontline service providers respond to

domestic violence (DV). Advocates see an increase in the severity and complexity

of DV cases, with COVID-19 complicating decisions of DV survivors to seek help.

Domestic Violence High Risk Teams (DVHRT) include police, probation and parole

officers, prosecutors, medical professionals, and DV advocates uniquely poised to

respond collaboratively to increased DV case numbers and escalating risk of lethality

for DV survivors. Adapting intervention and advocacy to the online sphere carries

challenges but also opportunities to help DV survivors and their communities find

safety.

Keywords

homicide, domestic violence, high risk, COVID-19, interventions, lethality, violence,

practice

In the past 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, trends of severe interpersonal

crimes such as domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner homicide have

increased (Boman & Gallupe, 2020). Staying home might reduce exposure to the

virus, but for some families it increases exposure to violence within the home. In

2020, police departments nationwide reported an increase in calls to respond to

domestic and family violence, approximately 10% to 22% more than in prior years

1Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, Amesbury, MA, USA

2Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA

Corresponding Author:

Cherra M. Mathis, Arizona State University, 411 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2163, USA.

Email: cmmathi1@asu.edu

1112037HSXXXX10.1177/10887679221112037Homicide StudiesDunne and Mathis

research-article2022