Intimate Partner Violence among Sexual Minorities: Exploring Police Officer Perceptions

• In Event: Police Perceptions, Stressors and Victim Experiences in Criminal Justice Procedures

Abstract

Intimate partner violence among sexual minorities is as common or more prevalent than among heterosexual couples. Limited empirical research has examined police officer perceptions of, and formal responses to, sexual minority IPV survivors. Using a randomly-assigned, experimental vignette design, the current study used a sample of self-report surveys from police officers at a large, urban police department to assess responses to an intimate partner violence scenario. Predictor variables included officer demographics, occupational characteristics, and adherence to homophobia. Multivariate models were computed to assess the main and moderating effects of covariates on police responses to intimate partner violence. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Amanda Goodson, Sam Houston State University

• Cortney Franklin, Sam Houston State University