Contextual Explanations for Intimate Partner Violence

• In Event: Examination of Contextual Factors in Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs frequently in North American societies. In Canada, nearly one in ten adults report recent victimization by an intimate partner (Brennan, 2011), and the associated costs are estimated to exceed $7 billion annually (Zhang, Hoddenbagh, McDonald, & Scrim, 2012). This paper explores the trends in IPV in Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) jurisdictions across British Columbia (B.C.), and examines the socio-economic and demographic factors that contribute to its occurrence. The presentation includes a trend analysis of the distribution of founded IPV calls for service over five years (2011-2015) and a detailed analysis of the founded IPV calls for service in 2016, including a discussion of the nature of the offence, offence characteristics, and offender characteristics. This information will familiarize police with the geospatial distribution, quantity, and nature of IPV in their cities, and help to inform the development of proactive strategies to counteract domestic violence trends that would be predicted based on the demographic and socio-economic factors present in the jurisdiction.

Authors

• Amanda V McCormick, University of the Fraser Valley

• Irwin M Cohen, University of the Fraser Valley

• Garth Davies, Simon Fraser University

• Christine Neudecker, Simon Fraser University

• Tara Haarhoff, Royal Canadian Mounted Police