The Impact of Improving Access to Support Services for Victims of Domestic Violence on Demand for Services and Victim Outcomes

Abstract

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of an intervention designed to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing nonpolice support services. The intervention led to a 22 percent decrease in the fraction of victims providing a witness statement to police. Witness statements are an important piece of evidence and a key input in the prosecution of perpetrators. Despite this, we do not find a significant change in perpetrator arrests and convictions or in reported future violence. Survey responses provide evidence of an increase in nonpolice service use and a reduction in future victimization risk, but also a potential decrease in short-run well-being. (JEL H75, I31, J12, K14, K42)