A new study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Criminal Justice, has found a surge in the number of domestic violence reports since stay-at-home orders were implemented in March due to coronavirus pandemic.
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), analyzed the Los Angeles and Indianapolis police call data and fond that domestic violence reports increased during the lockdown.
They predicted that the number of domestic violence calls should gradually decrease as lockdown measures are uplifted; however, the incidence would likely increase again if there is a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 infections, which can drive officials to reimpose stay-at-home orders.
Senior study author Prof. Jeffery Brantingham of UCLA said, “Shelter-in-place rules, by mandating more time at home, are very likely to increase the volume of domestic or intimate partner violence, which thrives behind closed doors.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, both Los Angeles and Indianapolis already have seen significant increases in domestic violence calls to the police, and we know domestic violence is one of the crimes least reported to the police,” he added.
The researchers analyzed domestic violence-related police calls before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, between January 2 and April 18 in Los Angeles, and between January 2 and April 21 in Indianapolis.
Los Angeles and Indianapolis implemented “safer-at-home” orders on March 20 and March 24, respectively. The closure of schools, restaurants, and bars was ordered on March 16 in both cities.
The team found that these major cities experienced a statistically significant increase in the number of domestic violence police calls after stay-at-home orders had been implemented.
If the stay-at-home orders are reimposed, the researchers predict that the number of police calls associated with domestic violence will remain high until these rules are in effect.
On the other hand, the numbers of reported robberies and burglaries have decreased significantly in both cities, while vehicle thefts were moderately higher in LA.
“Overall, these shifts are perhaps less substantial than might be expected given the scale of the disruption of social and economic life brought on by COVID-19,” Prof. Brantingham said.
“Overall, people were still finding opportunities to commit crimes at approximately the same level as before the crisis,” he added. The article originally appeared in PsychCentral.
