(WITHDRAWN) Video-Recorded Victim Statements in Domestic Violence Cases: Impact on Case Outcomes and Victim Engagement

Background and Purpose:

It is estimated that police respond to approximately half of all incidents of domestic violence nationwide. As part of their response, members of law enforcement disrupt patterns of violence, offer supportive services to victims, and are tasked with gathering evidence to substantiate criminal charges in tandem with prosecutors who move cases through the criminal justice system. The Recording Victim Video Statements as Evidence to Advance Legal Outcomes in Family Violence Cases (ReVEAL) evaluation examines the use of camcorders and other video-recording technology (e.g. body worn cameras), to document victim statements with a guided question protocol. ReVEAL examined whether recorded victim statements improve the quality and availability of evidence in criminal domestic violence cases leading to better case outcomes (e.g. convictions) and how video statements are perceived by victims and related stakeholders.

Methods:

ReVEAL is a multi-year, mixed-methods research project that took place across five Texas jurisdictions. Qualitative data included interviews and focus groups with approximately 165 participants over the course of the study, including professionals in the criminal justice system, community agencies, and victims. Qualitative data was analyzed using a grounded theory approach. A random sample of closed criminal DV cases (n=500) was analyzed with t-tests and ANOVAs to compare cases with and without a video-recorded victim statement.

Results:

Findings from the evaluation largely support the positive impact of video-recorded evidence and victim statements. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates within the system found the video improved their ability to communicate with victims and understand factors related to domestic violence – including elements of the scene, injuries, and the emotional impact of a complex crime. Video also offers a way for victims to give statements without literacy or language barriers. Victims reported mixed experiences on the process of being recorded with several participants expressing they did not know the video was taken or being fearful as to how the video would be used or accessed by the abuser. Quantitative analyses indicate that cases with video victim statements are significantly more likely to result in a guilty plea and less likely to result in a dismissal compared to those without a video statement.

Conclusions and Implications:

Video-recorded evidence is becoming more common in criminal domestic violence cases as many law enforcement agencies are adopting body-worn cameras. The findings from this study examine an important gap in understanding how video could be used to enhance the process by which information is collected and used from victims in domestic violence cases – specifically when evidence-based prosecution strategies are used. Additionally, many participants in the study noted that having video provided a consistent, detailed account of the incident and enhanced elements of procedural justice in the case. Implications focus on continued research and ensuring video practices consider victim safety and autonomy.