Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment in Victims Information and Assistance Office

Iris Almeida,Ana Pires,Patrícia Oliveira,Carolina Nobre,Joana Marques

doi:10.3390/msf2021005012

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the work developed by the Victims Information and Assistance Office (GIAV), and its role as technical advisor to the Lisbon Public Prosecutor’s Office, specifically about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) risk assessment. GIAV plays a key role in assisting the Public Prosecutor’s Office as the main response to cases with higher complexity and it provides support about measures to protect victims. The sample (n = 258) is derived from the IPV risk assessments of GIAV. Results show us that moderate and higher risk are the most common levels in IPV risk assessment and main risk factors. Defendants had more beliefs about IPV than victims.

Highlights

Forensic psychological assessment, violence risk assessment, is an essential element in the practice of forensic psychology [1] and plays a crucial role in criminal justice system, helping it to make decisions [2]
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) risk assessment includes semi-structured interviews and forensic psychological assessment tools which allows the identification of risk factors [4]
We evaluate 115 victims: 107 women and 8 men, aged between 17 and 73 years old (M = 44.68, sd = 12.50); 106 defendants: 100 men and 6 women, aged between 17 and 81 years old (M = 46.33, sd = 12.74); and 36 victims and defendants simultaneously: 19 men and 17 women, aged between 23 and 58 years old (M = 41.75, sd = 10.47)

Summary

Introduction

Violence risk assessment, is an essential element in the practice of forensic psychology [1] and plays a crucial role in criminal justice system, helping it to make decisions [2]. IPV risk assessment is an essential element in offender’s evaluation. It is possible to apply the most appropriate intervention to prevent violence, protecting victims, and re-socializing offenders [3]. This assessment identifies risk factors such as criminal history, social and situational factors, and psychological variables [3]. IPV risk assessment includes semi-structured interviews and forensic psychological assessment tools which allows the identification of risk factors [4].

Objectives

Methods

Results