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
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