Evaluation of the Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Demonstration Initiative (DVHPDI)

The Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Demonstration Initiative (DVHPDI) was developed to implement domestic violence homicide reduction and prevention models (Lethality Assessment Program; LAP) and evaluate how well they work in different communities. Yale University in conjunction with Michigan State University (MSU) is the national evaluator overseeing all four demonstration sites. Drs. Tolou-Shams and Dauria lead local evaluation efforts for the DVHPDI site in Contra Costa County, California. The UCSF ZSFG local evaluation team is assisting with two key components as part of the DVHPDI:  1) collecting administrative data from local criminal justice partners and domestic violence service providers to examine the breadth of the LAP intervention, the impact of the model on criminal justice processes, and whether there is a connection between assessment system and service utilization and the pattern of subsequent contact  between the victim and offender, and 2) obtain data from domestic violence service providers to assess domestic violence victims’ feelings of safety, fear, abuse, and associated behaviors. Evaluation activities are currently underway.