Researchers Address Domestic Violence in Shelby County

Establishing a task force, developing a strategic plan for coordinated community response, and ensuring adequate services

Dr. Amaia Iratzoqui was recently awarded $376,524 from the State of Tennessee, Office of Criminal Justice Programs with the U.S. Department of Justice for the project “Increasing Collaboration among Domestic Violence Agencies.” The award is a follow-up to a prior funded project from the same agency which evaluated the effectiveness of services to domestic violence victims in Shelby County (2018-2020). The evaluation, published in 2021, concluded that there is: Widespread frustration among domestic violence victims, criminal justice personnel, and service providers related to the level of cooperation in providing a continuum of services to victims; challenges related to sufficient collaboration and communication; lack of funding and services available for the body of victims pursuing social services; and a serious lack of 24/7 services.

Culminating this project was a Forum on Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence, co-hosted with the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission and held at the University of Memphis. Service providers and other stakeholders attending the forum included the Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center, the District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit, the Family Safety Center, CasaLuz, Kindred Place, the YWCA, the Memphis Area Women’s Council, the Domestic Violence Council, the Memphis Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Echoing the results of the evaluation, these representatives discussed the need for more coordination of service providers and more effective responses to the needs of victims. At the individual case level, there is also a need for a robust and comprehensive coordinated, trauma-informed approach to address the needs of victims (and hold perpetrators accountable). At a higher level, there is a need for more coordination in providing existing services coupled with a plan to address gaps in services.

The current project addresses both the results of the evaluation and the themes of the forum to 1) establish a Domestic Violence task force; and 2) develop a strategic plan to direct and implement a coordinated community response to domestic violence in Memphis and Shelby County, which the Task Force will oversee. To address these goals, the objectives for this project include: hiring a coordinator to support the task force; conduct a process evaluation as the task force is created and implemented; and to conduct an impact evaluation on the effect of the task force on domestic violence rates and use of services across Shelby County. Overall, the project aims to create a sustained, coordinated approach to domestic violence so that victims are aware of existing services, including services that support and empower victims to leave their abusers for good; ensuring easy access to those services; adequate services to meet the demand; and effective steps are taken to reduce the number and percentage of offenders, especially repeat offenders.

Dr. Amaia Iratzoqui is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Research Director of the Public Safety Institute. Her research specializes in research around the gendered causes and consequences of victimization, including domestic and intimate partner violence. Her recent work explores the implications of gender and victimization within Memphis and Shelby County, through partnerships with agencies including the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Crime Victims and Rape Crisis Center, Kindred Place, and other domestic violence-serving organizations.