Why is This Data Important?

Studies indicate domestic violence incidents have increased worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic (Boserup, 2020; Campbell, 2020). However, the expected increase in incidents were not reflected in analysis of the number of 911 calls relating to domestic violence in New Orleans. A decline was actually observed from 2017 through 2020. This raises questions into the true number of domestic violence incidents compared to the number of calls relating to domestic violence. With the expected rate increase in domestic violence incidence as reported by Boserup (2020) and Campbell (2020), victims may be avoiding calling for police service after a domestic violence incident has taken place. The lack of calls may be a reflection of the eroding confidence in the ability of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to arrive in a timely fashion. Recent reports indicate a “catastrophic staffing shortage” within the NOPD (Robin, 2020; Welty, 2020) which may also be contributing to erosion of public confidence. Further research is recommended into barriers for victims of domestic violence.

Additionally, children are at an increased risk of experiencing violence in the home during the COVID-19 pandemic (Campbell, 2020). Statistical analysis and mapping were not possible for calls of this type as they were stricken from the available dataset due to privacy concerns and to protect victims.

Dataset Information

All calls for service for years 2014 through 2020 were filtered for calls related to Aggravated Assult Domestic, Aggravated Battery Domestic, Homicide Domestic, Simple Assault Domestic, and Simple Battery Domestic.

To protect the privacy of victims, addresses were reported at the block level, and the call types Cruelty to Juveniles, Juvenile Attachment, and Missing Juvenile were removed in accordance with the Louisiana Public Records Act, L.R.S. 44:1.

Calls for service regarding Aggravated Rape, Aggravated Rape - MA, Crime Against Nature, Mental Patient, Oral Sexual Battery, Prostitution, Sexual Battery, Simple Rape, Simple Rape - Male V, and Soliciting for Prost. are included in statistical plots. However, due to the removal of map coordinates (X,Y) for victim protective purposes, they are unable to included for mapping purposes or statistical calculations involving mapped calls.

Dataset Source

This page uses data from all incidencts reported to the New Orleans Polic Department over the years of 2011 through 2020. Data sourced from DataDriven.NOLA.gov "Calls for Service".

References:

• Boserup, B., McKenney, M., Elkbuli A. (2020). Alarming trends in US domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Emerg Med. 38(12):2753-2755.a doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.04.077
• Campbell, A.M. (2020). An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: Strengthening community collaborations to save lives. Forensic Science International: Reports, 2, 100089. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100089
• Robin, N. (2020, November 19). PANO warns of ‘catastrophic staffing crisis’ for NOPD. FOX8. https://www.fox8live.com/2020/11/19/pano-warns-catastrophic-staffing-crisis-nopd/
• Welty, C. (2020, November 19). PANO: New Orleans Police Department facing “catastrophic staffing shortage”. WGNO. https://wgno.com/news/pano-new-orleans-police-department-facing-catastrophic-staffing-shortage/

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JAMES STEELE HOWARD, M.D. | AUTHOR

GENEVIEVE JONES | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

PUBLISHED MAY 11, 2021

UPDATED MAY 28, 2021