Fatal Peril: Traumatic Brain Injury and Mental Health Among Women Incarcerated for Intimate Partner Violence-Related Homicide

• In Event: Data, Policy, and Experience: Justice-Involved Women and Domestic Violence

Abstract

Fatal Peril—the first study to quantify the number of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors incarcerated for homicide offenses in California’s women’s prisons—sought to understand the role IPV plays in criminalizing survivors. More than 74% of 649 respondents experienced IPV the year before the killing—two-thirds of whom were at extreme risk for intimate partner homicide—and many suffered probable traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from strangulation. Traumatic childhood experiences, polyvictimization, and coercive control contributed to physical and mental health challenges and barriers to seeking help. Persons killed included strangers (28%), followed by intimate partners (21%), and children (14%) among other decedent types. Circumstances defining the killings included defense of self or others, a sense of fatal peril, financial entrapment, infidelity/jealousy, failed suicides, and similar reasons. Some respondents described being coerced into killing others or committing crimes that led to a killing. IPV indirectly contributed to the killing of strangers and acquaintances through substance use and mental health disorders, such as vehicular homicides and accidental killings. Respondents’ experience of the court was characterized by gender, race, and income bias from criminal legal system actors and that IPV was infrequently introduced as evidence.

Authors

• Andrea Cimino, Stanford Criminal Justice Center, Stanford Law School

• Debbie Mukamal, Stanford Criminal Justice Center, Stanford Law School