Abstract
IntroductionThe prevalence of violence to first responders is reported in ranges of approximately 40% to 90%. Pennsylvania has a felonious assault statute to address such violence, but the prosecutorial process has been noted to cause first‐responder dissatisfaction.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study using individual interviews with snowball sampling was conducted with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office to understand the prosecutorial process when a first responder is assaulted and injured in a line of duty. The Philadelphia Fire Department provided a list of first responders who sustained a work‐related injury from a patient or bystander assault so that particular cases could be discussed during the interviews.ResultsEmergent themes fell into two categories: factors that lead to a charge (prosecutorial merit, intent, and victim investment), and the judge's discretion in sentencing (“part of the job” mentality, concern for the defendant, and the justice system's offender focus). Immediately actionable tertiary prevention recommendations for fire departments, labor unions, and district attorney's offices were developed.ConclusionViolence against fire‐based emergency medical service (EMS) responders is a persistent and preventable workplace hazard. While felonious assault statutes express society's value that it is unacceptable to harm a first responder, this study found that such statutes failed to provide satisfaction to victims and that support when going through the court process is lacking. Assaulted EMS responders, their employers, and labor unions would benefit from the recommendations provided herein to help them extract a stronger sense of procedural justice from the legal process.
Highlights
The Philadelphia Fire Department provided a list of first responders who sustained a work‐related injury from a patient or bystander assault so that particular cases could be discussed during the interviews
Emergent themes fell into two categories: factors that lead to a charge, and the judge’s discretion in sentencing (“part of the job” mentality, concern for the defendant, and the justice system’s offender focus)
The purpose of this study was to learn about the processing and disposition of cases that come before the Philadelphia, PA District Attotney’s (DA’s) office when a Philadelphia Fire Department firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), or paramedic has been assaulted by a patient or bystander
Summary
The prevalence of violence to first responders is reported in ranges of approximately 40% to 90%. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study using individual interviews with snowball sampling was conducted with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office to understand the prosecutorial process when a first responder is assaulted and injured in a line of duty. Actionable tertiary prevention recommendations for fire departments, labor unions, and district attorney’s offices were developed. While felonious assault statutes express society’s value that it is unacceptable to harm a first responder, this study found that such statutes failed to provide satisfaction to victims and that support when going through the court process is lacking. Assaulted EMS responders, their employers, and labor unions would benefit from the recommendations provided to help them extract a stronger sense of procedural justice from the legal process
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