U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Protective Order Enforcement Team (POET) Evaluation, Final Report
NCJ Number
              203980

Author(s)
          Roxann M. Ryan Ph.D.;
                        Peggy Petrzelka Ph.D.
Date Published

October 2003
Length
              266 pages
Annotation
              This report presents the methodology and findings of an impact evaluation of a project in which a multidisciplinary team used risk assessment instruments as the means for allocating resources to curtail high-risk perpetrators of domestic violence.
Abstract
              According to the grant specifications, the Protective Order Enforcement Team (POET) would use a formal risk assessment instrument to identify those high-risk cases that would require the deployment of extra resources. The intent of this effort was to focus resources on those cases that posed a greater risk of death for the victims. The evaluation involved structured interviews with POET members, an analysis of POET progress reports, and semistructured interviews with victims in targeted cases. The qualitative analysis of interviews identified factors in the successful functioning of the multidisciplinary team and prerequisites for the effective use of the risk assessment instrument in assessing potential victim danger of death from the abuse. The process evaluation found that team members did not work well together. This was due to several factors. The team was not formed prior to the grant period; agency heads did not clearly communicate expectations to the team members; and team members did not receive consistent support from their own agencies or from other team members. Substantial turnover in staff exacerbated the difficulties. Moreover, team members did not reach any consensus regarding the primacy of victim safety as the guiding principle of team efforts. The use of the risk assessment instrument was not effective due to the reluctance of victims to share information with the team. Victims did not trust that the information would be used to help them rather than the abusers. Consequently, victims refused to complete the risk assessment form, and victim advocates refused to share with police or prosecutors the information needed to help assess risk. A comparison of the operation of the POET project with the operation of other Domestic Abuse Response Teams (DART's) shows that a team must be well-established before assuming an additional focus, such as risk assessment. Given the finding that risk assessment cannot be done effectively by a newly formed team with low levels of trust, the report advocates development in the following arenas prior to the launching of team operations: support for the program by the highest level administrators of the agency; the development of communication skills and overall understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence; and team familiarity with effective small group dynamics. 111 references and appended risk assessment instrument and evaluation data
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2000-WE-VX-K001


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Program/Project Evaluation
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2003
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Crime prediction
        Criminology
        Dangerousness
        Domestic assault
        Domestic assault prevention



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Statistical Evaluation of Sectral Interferences in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
                  Young Adult Reports of the Victim-Offender Overlap in Intimate and Nonintimate Relationships: A Nationally Representative Sample
                  A Fully Continuous System of DNA Profile Evidence Evaluation That Can Utilize STR Profile Data Produced Under Different Conditions Within a Single Analysis
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov