Assessing Coercive Control in Forensic Settings: A Review of the Development and Application of the Brief Interview of Coercive Control (BICC)

The Coercive Control framework is essential for accurately evaluating abuse in domestic violence and other interpersonal contexts, particularly in forensic and criminal justice settings. Thus, an efficient and reliable way to assess this dynamic is needed. The Brief Interview of Coercive Control (BICC) was developed to address this need. The BICC’s operational definitions are derived from research, expert consensus, and decades of mixed-method research. High inter-rater agreement indicates excellent reliability across abuse contexts including partner violence, sex trafficking, and cults. Evidence for the validity of the BICC is strong. Considerations for its use in forensic practice and research are discussed.