Study
Davis, Weisburd, and Hamilton (2007) conducted a randomized experiment to assess the impact of the Redlands (CA) Second Responders program. The study was also designed to determine whether the timing of the intervention is a key determinant of its effects. Cases involving misdemeanor or felony battery of a spouse or intimate partner reported to the Redlands Police Department (RPD) from Jan. 1, 2005, through Dec. 3, 2005, were randomized to one of three conditions: 1) second responders were sent to the victims’ homes within 24 hours (n=75); 2) second responders scheduled a visit to victims’ homes approximately 1 week after the call for service (n=77); or 3) no second response occurred (n=148).
There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to case characteristics. Fifty-three percent of all cases involved charges of misdemeanor battery, 23 percent involved felony spousal assault, 1 percent involved assault with a weapon, 1 percent involved sexual assaults, and 22 percent involved nonviolent charges (including vandalism, violation of a restraining order, threats, and harassing phone calls). Eighty-two percent of the victims were female. The median age for victims was 33 years old; for perpetrators, 35.
The outcome of interest was any new incidents of abuse. Rearrest data was collected from the RPD database 6 months after the reporting date of the last domestic violence incident included in the study. The database was searched to determine if any new incidents had been reported for cases included in the study. The search returned any cases associated with the same victim in the trigger incident. For any new incidents that were identified during the search, information was collected on the date, charge, and identity of the perpetrator.
In addition, 6 months following the trigger incident, research staff attempted to interview victims about any new incidents of abuse that might have occurred. At least five attempts were made to contact victims by telephone. In cases where the victim could not be reached by phone, an incentive letter was sent to the home. Several steps were taken to protect victims from possible retaliation from the person who is abusing them. Overall, a 41 percent (n=123) interview success rate was achieved. Twenty-two percent (n=66) were interviewed during home visits, 13 percent (n=39) were interviewed by phone, and 6 percent (n=18) were interviewed by incentive letter. There were no significant differences between the cases in which interviews were completed compared with cases where interviews were not completed, except in terms of charge. Victims who were interviewed were more likely to be involved in nonviolent incidents relative to those not interviewed.
When examining case characteristics by looking at police data, three in four perpetrators did not have a history of abuse against the victim reported to the RPD. Sixteen percent had one prior incident on file, 4 percent had two incidents, 3 percent had three incidents, and 1 percent had four or more prior incidents on file. However, according to victims, two in three perpetrators had abused them before the current incident, a number far higher than the proportion who had a previous history with the police. Victims reported an average of two prior acts of abuse against them.
