The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Domestic Violence Trends and Services in the US

• In Event: Intimate Partner Violence Prevention and Victim Services

Abstract

The present study, based on interview and focus group discussions (n=102) and surveys (n=425) with victim service providers in the 50 US states, five US territories, and the District of Columbia examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic environment on domestic violence (DV) trends and the service needs of DV survivors. Specifically, in this presentation, we report findings from our national project on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected number of DV clients served by victim service organizations, the change in lethality and type of abuses experienced by survivors, the change in tactics used by perpetrators, the risk and protective factors for DV during the pandemic, and victim service needs during the pandemic. Using an interdisciplinary theoretical framework including criminology, public health, and social work, assisted by our mixed methods approach, we discuss the implications of our findings for post-pandemic theory, research, and policies in assisting DV victims and survivors.

Authors

• Yasemin Irvin-Erickson, George Mason University

• Mangai Natarajan, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Brittany Suh, The Graduate Center, CUNY

• Lindsay Smith, George Mason University

• Susan Nembhard, The Urban Institute / John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Yi-Fang Lu, George Mason University