Interpersonal Violence in the Bakken: Quantitative Findings from an Exploratory Study

• In Event: Physical and Sexual Intimate Parter Violence: Predictors, Measurement and Consequences

Abstract

Population growth associated with the Bakken oil boom in western North Dakota and eastern Montana has led to significant changes in affected communities. Researchers and the media have reported on concomitant increases in crime, drug use, traffic, demands on law enforcement, challenges faced by human service workers, concerns about youth safety, and other social problems. This presentation will review findings from quantitative data collected as part of a larger mixed methods exploratory study examining the impact of the oil industry in North Dakota and Montana on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Data come from victim service agencies, Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), state sexual offender registries, and the United States Census. Trends from 2002-2014 will be described and their implications for intervention/prevention, caseload management, and public policy will be discussed.

Authors

• Roni Mayzer, University of North Dakota

• F. Matt Jones, University of Central Oklahoma

• Rick Ruddell, University of Regina