Factors Predicting Repeat Domestic Violence Victimization

• In Event: Poster Session II

Abstract

Repeat victimization is commonly understood as the pattern and prevalence of victimization and supports the idea that past victims are often at high risk of future victimization. This is an important factor for local authorities in their attempt to predict and prevent crimes. Thus, many police departments around the country, including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) have adopted the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). The LAP is a tool used by officers on domestic violence calls, designed to prevent victims from future risk of lethal violence. However, a recent report published by the Department of Justice questions the predicative validity of the LAP and suggests that some police departments may want to explore utilizing alternative tools. The current study provides an analysis of recent trends, including demographic information on domestic violence homicides in Las Vegas, Nevada over a two-year period, as well as preliminary findings from the evaluation of the effectiveness of LVMPD’s implementation of the LAP program.

Authors

• Dory A. Mizrachi, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• William H. Sousa, University of Nevada, Las Vegas