Use of the ODARA by police officers for intimate partner violence: Implications for practice in the field

Abstract

Despite research demonstrating the validity of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) for appraising risk of subsequent intimate partner violence, gaps remain with regard to its actual use by police officers in the field. The primary goals of the current study were to assess the rate at which the ODARA was used by police officers for intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Canadian context and to identify factors associated with its use. The current study used 142 randomly selected police files meeting criteria for IPV from three police agencies in an Atlantic Canadian province, following province-wide training on domestic violence and the ODARA. The ODARA was used by police in 60.3% of cases, though more commonly when physical Violence was present at index (70%). Significant ODARA use variation was noted across the three police gencies. ODARAs were more likely administered when the suspect was using drugs/alcohol (76.4%), the incident was between parties in a current intimate relationship (67.0%), when physical violence occurred in the index event (70.6%), and when a weapon was used (84.2%). Decisions to arrest and recommend charges to the prosecutor were predicted by higher ODARA total scores, above and beyond the influence of the police organization, suspect/victim characteristics, and incident context variables. Results are discussed in the context of police discretion/decision-making and the need for stronger implementation and policy use guidelines for risk appraisal by police officers, which includes a better understanding of IPV and the ODARA.

Predictive Properties of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) in a Northern Canadian Prairie Sample

“…When the ODARA was used, however, officers were significantly more likely (70.2%) to arrest the perpetrator (i.e., a risk management strategy) than when they did not use it (26.8%). Per the risk and need principles, use of the ODARA enables an appraisal of potential for future violence—and justification to detain perpetrator (Ballucci et al, 2020)—which, along with contextual variables (e.g., presence of physical violence, perpetrator intoxication, weapon use) can inform risk management and safety planning strategies per the need principle.…”

“…For instance, Ballucci et al (2020) found that there was considerable variability among New Brunswick police detachments in use of the ODARA in response to IPV calls, even though there is a province-wide mandate for frontline officers to use the measure in this context. When the ODARA was used, however, officers were significantly more likely (70.2%) to arrest the perpetrator (i.e., a risk management strategy) than when they did not use it (26.8%).…”

The Validity of the ODARA in Australian Intimate Partner Violence Cases Without Prior Assault/Credible Threat or Cohabitation

“…Legislative definitions now encompass abuse in both married and dating couples and same and opposite gender partnerships, and behaviors that go well beyond physical assault or credible threat (McEwan et al, 2019; Medina Ariza et al, 2016). In jurisdictions where police are required to respond to a wider range of IPA, there is pressure for them to assess risk of broader abuse outcomes in a variety of intimate relationships (Ballucci et al, 2020; Barlow et al, 2020; Jolliffe Simpson et al, 2021; Lauria et al, 2017; McEwan et al, 2019; Medina Ariza et al, 2016).…”

“…The ODARA performed as well in that study as in previous research, but predictive results for the women were not reported separately making it unclear whether it was effective in this subgroup. McTague (2018, as cited in Ballucci et al, 2020) reported the ODARA to be an unreliable estimator of subsequent IPV in a sample of 99 Canadian women who were reported to police for perpetrating family violence. Even more recently, Hegel and colleagues (2021) examined the validity of the ODARA in a sample of 300 rural Canadian men, 93% of whom were Indigenous.…”

A field study on the police use of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA).

“…Meta-analytic studies support the ODARA’s predictive accuracy over other risk tools intended to assess for IPV recidivism risk (e.g., Messing & Thaller, 2013; van der Put et al, 2019). However, Ballucci et al (2020) noted that there are no peer-reviewed studies that have examined the use of the ODARA by police officers who are actively responding to IPV incidents. A recent study from Australia showed police-scored items from the ODARA had moderate predictive validity for IPV recidivism (Lauria et al, 2017); however, the follow-up period regarding opportunity to reoffend was highly restricted, ranging from 16 to 216 days (i.e., 2 weeks to 7 months), which is much shorter than most recidivism studies (e.g., 6 months to 5.1 years reported in meta-analysis by Messing & Thaller, 2013).…”