Beyond Public Records Databases

Abstract

As a means of better understanding homicide incidents, methods for identifying, locating, and interviewing confidants of homicide victims are still in their infancy. This article discusses a set of strategies that worked in studies conducted on risk of injury and death in intimate partner relationships in Houston and Chicago and key factors that may affect completion rates of proxy interviews. Primary considerations when using proxy respondent methodology include maximizing the use of public records, hiring and training interviewers for fieldwork skills as well as interview skills, and developing a protocol for interviewer and respondent safety.