U.S. Criminal Justice Professionals’ Experiences Working with Intimate Partner Violence Cases During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Place

This exploratory study furthers the understanding of intimate partner violence (IPV) during the COVID-19 pandemic by considering criminal justice professionals’ experiences and response to IPV by place. A national web-based survey was distributed to criminal justice professionals in the United States with IPV caseloads to see if perceptions of IPV and safety strategies recommended to IPV victims varied across place during the pandemic (n = 159). Findings indicate most respondents perceived an increase in IPV calls during the pandemic, regardless of place, although perceptions of severity and recommended safety strategies differed by place. These findings emphasize the significant role of place, laying the groundwork for exploring more complex interactions in future research. Implications include tailoring IPV response efforts (e.g. safety planning, specialized training, interagency coordinated responses) by place in planning for future disruptions to the criminal justice system. Results also speak to the importance of the integration of an effective IPV response into emergency and disaster preparedness at the local, state, and national levels.