Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica

Intimate partner violence (IPV) presents various challenges for victims and the police tasked with protecting them and investigating perpetrators. Using a mixed-methods approach, this article highlights some of the main challenges of policing IPV in Jamaica, a small island developing state. We prese...

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Main Authors: Cush Sewell Lewis, Stacey-Ann Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Queensland University of Technology 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/3735
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author Cush Sewell Lewis
Stacey-Ann Wilson
author_facet Cush Sewell Lewis
Stacey-Ann Wilson
author_sort Cush Sewell Lewis
collection DOAJ
description Intimate partner violence (IPV) presents various challenges for victims and the police tasked with protecting them and investigating perpetrators. Using a mixed-methods approach, this article highlights some of the main challenges of policing IPV in Jamaica, a small island developing state. We present findings from interviews with police officers and content analysis of key legislation within a broader discussion, incorporating secondary data from national surveys and community focus groups. Collectively, this provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of policing IPV. We discuss some of the historical and social factors contributing to IPV in the country and examine how the police balance victim support with the investigation of perpetrators. Additionally, we identify key institutional and legislative barriers, such as inadequate training and legal limitations, which hinder effective policing. Finally, we propose the problem-oriented policing (POP) framework as a potential solution to improve the handling of IPV cases in Jamaica.
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series International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
spelling doaj-art-c0474672db4e4df99a5ed3288ef3e35c2025-08-20T02:46:25ZengQueensland University of TechnologyInternational Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy2202-79982202-80052025-03-01141597110.5204/ijcjsd.37354058Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in JamaicaCush Sewell Lewis0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7954-1145Stacey-Ann Wilson1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1984-7271The University of the West IndiesThe University of the West IndiesIntimate partner violence (IPV) presents various challenges for victims and the police tasked with protecting them and investigating perpetrators. Using a mixed-methods approach, this article highlights some of the main challenges of policing IPV in Jamaica, a small island developing state. We present findings from interviews with police officers and content analysis of key legislation within a broader discussion, incorporating secondary data from national surveys and community focus groups. Collectively, this provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of policing IPV. We discuss some of the historical and social factors contributing to IPV in the country and examine how the police balance victim support with the investigation of perpetrators. Additionally, we identify key institutional and legislative barriers, such as inadequate training and legal limitations, which hinder effective policing. Finally, we propose the problem-oriented policing (POP) framework as a potential solution to improve the handling of IPV cases in Jamaica.https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/3735problem-orientated policingintimate partner violencejamaica
spellingShingle Cush Sewell Lewis
Stacey-Ann Wilson
Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
problem-orientated policing
intimate partner violence
jamaica
title Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
title_full Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
title_fullStr Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
title_full_unstemmed Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
title_short Policing Victims and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Jamaica
title_sort policing victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence in jamaica
topic problem-orientated policing
intimate partner violence
jamaica
url https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/3735
work_keys_str_mv AT cushsewelllewis policingvictimsandperpetratorsofintimatepartnerviolenceinjamaica
AT staceyannwilson policingvictimsandperpetratorsofintimatepartnerviolenceinjamaica