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Stojakovic N, D'Alessio SJ, Stolzenberg L. Intangible Identity Theft and Intimate Partner Violence. VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS 2023; 38:819-838. [PMID: 37949459 DOI: 10.1891/vv-2023-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
While tougher domestic violence laws and protective orders are frequently credited with attenuating intimate partner violence (IPV), one unexplored explanation for this observed reduction is that intimate partner abusers are shifting their abusive behavior to intangible identity theft to thwart legal mechanisms traditionally used to deter IPV. Unlike the monetary motive associated with document identity theft, intangible identity theft is committed by someone with a preexisting grievance against the victim because the theft's primary purpose is to tarnish the victim's reputation. Results from a multilevel analysis show that a woman has a lower probability of being a victim of an intimate rather than nonintimate partner crime in cities with a higher intangible identity theft rate. Such a finding suggests that intangible identity theft may be a form of intimate partner abuse with few adverse consequences for offenders because identity thieves are rarely arrested and prosecuted. Nevertheless, the current study is only preliminary. Further research is needed before our findings and conclusions can be universally accepted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevena Stojakovic
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Stewart J D'Alessio
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Lisa Stolzenberg
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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Alsinai A, Reygers M, DiMascolo L, Kafka J, Rowhani-Rahbar A, Adhia A, Bowen D, Shanahan S, Dalve K, Ellyson AM. Use of immigration status for coercive control in domestic violence protection orders. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2023; 8:1146102. [PMID: 37188152 PMCID: PMC10175620 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1146102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In the context of domestic violence (DV), immigration-related circumstances can be exploited by an abuser to coerce and manipulate their partner. Using an intersectional structural framework, we examine how social structures overlaid with immigration-specific experiences operate to further enhance opportunities for abuse against immigrant women. We conducted a textual analysis to identify how socially constructed systems interact with a victim-survivor's immigration status to introduce more tools for abusers to engage in coercive control and/or acts of violence in a random sample of petitioners (i.e., victim-survivors) who were granted a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) in King County, WA (n = 3,579) from 2014-2016 and 2018-2020. We hand-reviewed textual petitioner narratives and identified n = 39 cases that discussed immigration-related circumstances and related acts of violence and coercion. These narratives included threats to contact authorities to interfere with an ongoing immigration process, deportation threats, and threats that would separate families. In many cases, petitioners indicated that immigration-related threats prevented them from leaving the violent partner, seeking help, or reporting the abuse. We also found mention of barriers for victims to receive protection and gain autonomy from further abuse including a lack of familiarity with US protections and laws, and restrictions on authorizations to work. These findings demonstrate that structurally created immigration-specific circumstances provide opportunities for threats and retaliation against victim-survivors by abusers and create barriers to seeking help initially. Policy should respond to anticipate these threats in the immigrant community and engage early responders (e.g., healthcare providers, law enforcement) to support victim-survivors from immigrant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Alsinai
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Max Reygers
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lisa DiMascolo
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julie Kafka
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Avanti Adhia
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Deirdre Bowen
- School of Law, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sandra Shanahan
- Regional Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement Unit, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kimberly Dalve
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alice M. Ellyson
- Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Alice M. Ellyson
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