Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

The primary goal of the Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims (ELERV) initiative and study was to improve the responses victims of crime receive from law enforcement officials, and in 2016 the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) was selected as one of three test sites for the initiative. In 2019, the ELERV project concluded its fourth and final year of implementation in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Evaluative results validate the decision to select Chattanooga as one of the research sites for the grant. This study discusses project and considers the results. Overall, quantitative results reveal a significant number of positive findings, including elevated training on police response to victims of crime and an increase in the number of partnerships between law enforcement and advocacy agencies dedicated to serving victims. Quantitative results also show high percentages of law enforcement officers reporting their concern for victims and that they routinely carry contact information to better advise victims of services in the city. Qualitative results, however, depict a less clear-cut story of ELERV’s successes and areas for further work and development. While significant progress was made in creating policy and training changes to promote ELERV goals, data collected during the four years of implementation suggests that much work remains to be done to ensure the desired cultural shift regarding perceptions of victims of crime, evidence-based interventions, and support services is ultimately achieved within the CPD.