The Impact of Brain Injury Services in Domestic Violence Cases: A Randomized Control Trial

Blows to the head and strangulation are dreadfully common among women victimized by intimate partners, according to dozens of research studies. Unfortunately, research on the impact of brain injury (BI) services on domestic violence (DV) victims in the criminal justice system (CJS) is woefully lacking, leaving jurisdictions with little empirical evidence to guide policy and practice. At a time when practice regarding IPV and BI screening is rapidly developing, a goal is to use research to inform actions taken after the screening that promote justice and enhance criminal justice outcomes for DV victims with BIs.

With criminal justice and community-based partners, this study will carry out a randomized control trial (RCT) to test the impact of a community-coordinated response (CCR) to Brain Injury Services Outreach. The catchment area has a well-established CCR through which victims in DV cases have access to system- and community-based victim advocacy. Both administrative data (n=800 cases) and victim interviews (n=250) will be used to assess impacts, including criminal case outcomes as well as victim engagement, wellbeing, and revictimization (baseline, 3 and 6 months). The study will also identify for whom and under what conditions outreach for BI services has the most significant impact. The resulting dataset will test four study hypotheses and address critical questions about the effectiveness of integrating BI services into CCRs on criminal justice case outcomes, victim engagement, wellbeing, and revictimization. The current study is designed to inform national policy and practice to promote justice for victims of crime and enhance criminal justice responses to DV for victims with brain injuries.

Findings will be disseminated widely to researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and survivors using various means (virtual and in-person modes). Deliverables include scholarly products (including published, peer-reviewed academic journal articles and conference presentations), a final research report and study data that will be archived at NACJD, as well as social media posts, webinars, and other web-based resources (e.g., blog posts, TED talks), and survivor-focused materials. CA/NCF