NCJ Number
198967
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 58-84
Date Published
February 2003
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the risk of intimate partner homicide for women that have separated compared to women in intact relationships.
Abstract
Past surveys found that rates of violence reported to have occurred in relationships that ended are higher than in situations with current partners. They also found that violence by past partners was more serious on average, more frequent, and more likely to result in injury. This study examined differences in the context and circumstances surrounding homicides committed by current and estranged intimate partners and by legally married, common-law, and non-cohabiting intimate partners in Canada between 1991 and 2000. The data were drawn from Statistics Canada’s annual Homicide Survey questionnaires completed by police departments across the country following a homicide incident. Results show that the cases examined tended to occur within different context and motives, depending on the sex of perpetrators and victims and both the status and the state of the relationships. Factors were less likely to differentiate relationship status and state when victims were male. This is likely due to the relatively high percentage of cases that appear from these data to be acts of self-defense when committed by women. Most factors differentiated relationship status and state for female victims but not for male victims. This knowledge can help identify dangerous situations and provide protection and support to women at high risk of homicide, especially separating women. Women should be aware of ways to protect themselves before a decision to separate, including not telling their partners of plans to leave and knowing to take any threats against themselves very seriously. It is important to identify extraordinarily controlling partners, even with no history of physical assaults. Emotional abuse must be better understood on the continuum of power and control tactics used in intimate relationships to fully identify risk factors in post-separation intimate violence. 2 figures, 6 tables, 4 notes, 31 references