Strengthening community-level understanding of and responses to intimate partner violence using geographic information systems (GIS)
| Pages | 197-211 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-01-2016-0209 |
| Date | 11 July 2016 |
| Published date | 11 July 2016 |
| Author | Christine Murray,Rick Bunch,Eleazer D. Hunt |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace |
Strengthening community-level
understanding of and responses
to intimate partner violence using
geographic information systems (GIS)
Christine Murray, Rick Bunch and Eleazer D. Hunt
Christine Murray is an
Associate Professor at the
Department of Counseling and
Educational Development,
University of North Carolina
at Greensboro, Greensboro,
North Carolina, USA.
Rick Bunch is a Professor at the
Department of Geography,
University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, Greensboro,
North Carolina, USA.
Eleazer D. Hunt is the Manager
of Information Services at the
Greensboro Police
Department, Greensboro,
North Carolina, USA.
Abstract
Purpose –Recently, there has been increased attention to community- and neighborhood-level influences
on rates and experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of
geographic information systems (GIS) to geographically analyze these influences in order to enhance
community-level understanding of and responses to IPV.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors review existing literature supporting the needs for this level
of analysis, and then they present eight steps for researchers and practitioners to use when applying GIS to
analyze IPV.
Findings –This is a conceptual paper.
Research limitations/implications –This paper offers researchers and practitioners suggested strategies
for using GIS analyses to examine community-level influences on IPV in future research.
Practical implications –The practical implications of using GIS analyses are discussed, including ways
that the findings of these analyses can be used to enhance community-level resources to prevent and
respond to IPV.
Social implications –This innovative, interdisciplinary approach offers new insightsinto understanding and
addressing IPV at a community level.
Originality/value –To date, there has been minimal research used to apply GIS analyses to the problem of
IPV in communities. This paper presents a framework for future researchers and practitioners to apply this
methodology to expand on community-level understanding of IPV.
Keywords Domestic violence, Intimate partner violence, Geographic information systems,
Law enforcement, Community responses, Spatial analyses
Paper type Conceptual paper
Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant public health issue, impacting a large
proportion of the population in the USA and around the world. For example, the National
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (Black et al., 2011) revealed that over one-third of women and over one-fourth of men
in the USA had experienced some form of sexual or physical violence or stalking within an
intimate relationship at some point in their lives. Rates of psychological abuse were even higher,
with about one-half of both men and women reporting experiences of this type of violence in their
lifetimes. Given these high rates, a need remains for ongoing research and practical advances to
improve resources, services, and community-level responses that will aim to prevent future
violence, provide support to victims and survivors, and hold offenders accountable.
Received 12 January 2016
Revised 12 April 2016
Accepted 12 April 2016
The authors would like to thank
Captain Mike Richey, Lieutenant
Jill Gladieux, and Sergeant Jack
Steinberg of the Greensboro Police
Department for their contributions
and collaboration on the work
described in this paper.
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-01-2016-0209 VOL. 8 NO. 3 2016, pp.197-211, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599
j
JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
j
PAGE197
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