An Examination of the Domestic Violence Case Processing Pipeline in South Carolina

Anna Criswell, Criminal Justice and Psychology

Dr. Barbara Koons-Witt, Criminology & Criminal Justice (faculty mentor)

Background
Domestic violence is a profound problem in the United States. It is estimated that over ten million adults in the US
experience domestic violence annually (Smith et al., 2018). In South Carolina, it is estimated that 42.3% of women and
29.2% of men experience physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime
(Smith et al., 2017). Additionally, about one in four women and one in ten men experience sexual violence, physical
violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (Smith et al., 2018). According to South Carolina law,
domestic violence is defined as physical harm or injury, or any attempt to cause harm or injury, to a household member,
including a spouse, former spouse, persons who have a child in common, and a male and female cohabitation or formerly
cohabitating (Section 16-25-20).

Moreover, with the recent implementation of new arrest policies, there continues to be a high volume of domestic
violence cases entering the criminal justice system (Gover et al., 2007). Yet, there has been very little research on how
domestic violence cases are processed in the court system. Limitations such as a lack of strict methodological approaches,
an absence of extralegal and victim-related variables in studies, and generalizability have been a recurrent concern in
domestic violence case processing research (Alderden & Ullman, 2012; Freiburger & Romain, 2018; Henning & Feder,
2005; Kutateladze & Leimberg, 2018). However, even with the high increase of cases being pushed into the court system,
these cases still experience lenient treatment and high dismissals (Currul-Dykeman, 2014).

Research Question
How are domestic violence cases processed through the court system from the decision to prosecute a case through the
sentencing outcome?

Project Goal and Objectives

The goal of the current project is to gain a better understanding of the case processing pipeline for domestic violence cases
in South Carolina. The project considers multiple decision points for case processing including decision to prosecute,
detain pre-trial, diversion, plea bargain, and case disposition for domestic violence cases from South Carolina’s 14th
Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Project Significance
Much of the existing research on domestic violence cases and sentencing focuses on one or two decision points (e.g.,
conviction, sentencing decision). The current project is important because it considers multiple decision points from the
decision to prosecute a case, up through decisions, should there be a plea, or a case go to trial and there is a sentence.
Being able to understand the domestic violence case processing pipeline addresses an important gap in the research and
will help address additional research questions that seek to explain how factors such as courtroom actors, defendant and
victim characteristics, victim cooperation, and evidence impact decisions at various points in the pipeline. For instance,
the current work could lead to research in identifying whether certain defendants are more likely to be processed,
convicted, and sentenced for a domestic violence offense.

Project Methodology and Design

This project is a part of a larger National Institute of Justice (NIJ) study led by Dr. Christi Metcalfe and my faculty
mentor, Dr. Barbara Koons-Witt. The NIJ study uses a mixed-methods design that involves data collection from the 14th
Circuit Court’s Matrix Prosecutor System, pre-trial intervention database, pre-trial detention database, and interviews with
courtroom actors. As part of the current project, I will review case notes made by courtroom actors in the Matrix
Prosecutor System from a sample of 1,083 Domestic Violence (DV) cases from the years 2017 and 2018 to identify
information on sentencing decisions. This data will be added to a current excel spreadsheet containing other quantitative
data on defendants, victims, courtroom actors, charges, bonds, case processing phases and timing of the phases.

To address the research question, I will work with the excel spreadsheet containing data on case processing information
and decisions to identify possible pathways for DV cases and present findings for the following case outcomes:
prosecuted vs. dismissed, detained vs. not detained, pretrial diversion vs. no pretrial diversion, negotiation plea vs. non-
negotiated, plea vs. bench or jury trial, and acquittal or custodial sentence vs. non-custodial sentence (see Figure 1). The
study and data protocol has received IRB approval (Pro00119599) and I have completed CITI training.
Figure 1. Case Processing Pipeline Analysis

(Metcalfe & Koons-Witt, 2021)

Project Timeline

Task Description Project Months

Jan. Feb. March April May
Search /review relevant research on DV case processing
Case narrative review and data coding
Case processing pipeline analysis
UofSC Discover Day poster preparation
Write and revise final report for Magellan

Final Products and Dissemination

Upon completion of this project, I will present my findings at UofSC Discover Day in the spring and write a final report
that highlights my work as part of the Magellan program.

Personal Statement
As a junior in High School, I was introduced to a program called Safe Harbor, a non-profit organization for survivors of
domestic violence. This led me to become interested in the issue of domestic violence and the programs of services
available to assist victims of domestic violence. My interest in this area is one of the main reasons why I became a
criminal justice major. I want to be able to support those who are victims and in need of help. This past summer, I
participated in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
and completed required CITI training on human subjects. I was a member of the research team led by Dr. Koons-Witt,
where we explored victim-related factors in prosecutor case summaries using qualitative data from the larger NIJ study.
Because of this, I am already familiar with some of the literature about domestic violence and the court.
 References

Alderden, M. A., & Ullman, S. E. (2012). Creating a more complete and current picture: Examining police and prosecutor
decision-making when processing sexual assault cases. Violence Against Women, 18(5), 525–551.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801212453867

Currul-Dykeman, K. (2014). Domestic violence case processing: A matter of local legal culture. Contemporary Justice
Review, 17(2), 250-272.

Freiburger, T. L., & Romain, D. (2018). An examination of the impacts of gender, race, and ethnicity on the judicial
processing of offenders in family violence cases. Crime & Delinquency, 64(13), 1663–1697.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128717743780

Gover, A. R., Brank, E. M., & MacDonald, J. M. (2007). A specialized domestic violence court in south carolina: An
example of procedural justice for victims and defendants. Violence Against Women, 13(6), 603–626.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801207301553

Henning, K., & Feder, L. (2005). Criminal prosecution of domestic violence offenses: an investigation of factors
predictive of court outcomes. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 32(6), 612–642.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854805279945

Kutateladze, B. L., & Leimberg, A. (2018). The influence of type of defense counsel on prosecutorial and judicial
decision making in domestic violence cases. Crime & Delinquency, 65(12), 1623–1647.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128718806901

Metcalfe, C., & Koons-Witt, B. (2021). Court decision-making in domestic violence cases: An analysis of the case
processing pipeline in South Carolina. Award No. 10011573. National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 1-29.

Smith, S. G., Chen, J., Basile, K. C., Gilbert, L. K., Merrick, M. T., Patel, N., Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The national
intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2010-2012 state report. National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 272.

Smith, S. G., Zhang, X., Basile, K. C., Merrick, M. T., Wang, J., Kresnow, M., & Chen, J. (2018). The national intimate
partner and sexual violence survey: 2015 data brief—updated release. National Center for Injury Prevention and
Control, 1–25.
 Instructions and tips on completing this form, can be found here.

Magellan Scholar BUDGET FORM

Student’s Name: Anna Criswell

Double-click on table to enter data
Student salary Hours Rate Subtotal
Estimated number of hours
Enter the hourly w age
student w ill w ork
Research hours during
sem esters w hen enrolled in
classes 180 15 $2,700.00
Research hours during
sem esters w hen NOT
enrolled in classes 0 0 $0.00

Fringe: Student salary * student fringe rate1 (w hat is fringe? See budget instructions or guidebook)
Enrolled in classes $2,700.00 0.50% $13.50
Not enrolled in classes $0.00 8.18% $0.00

Materials/Supplies Enter sub-total from below: $250.00

Travel Enter sub-total from below: $0.00

TOTAL: $2,963.50

Amount requested for Scholar award: $2,963.50

Budget Justification/Description

NOTE: Magellan Scholar awards are processed through “E” funds. All expenditures MUST remain compliant with E fund procurement
requirements. All budgets must be reviewed by department business managers prior to submission.

Student Salary: Indicate estimated number of student research hours per week and hourly rate separated by semesters when student is enrolled in
classes or not enrolled in classes (generally fall or spring vs summer semesters). Time during breaks (Fall, Winter or Spring break) are still hours
during semesters of enrolled classes.

Spring Semester (while in classes):

10 hours per week x 18 weeks at $15.00 per hour = $2,700.00
Start date: January 1, 2023; End date: May 5, 2023

Materials/Supplies*: Indicate items, quantity, and estimated price. Be sure to include taxes on all purchases.
*Review guidebook for allowable/unallowable expenses.
• Are you requesting funds for participant incentives? You must attach an approval memo from business manager – see guidebook.
• ALL non-expendable items MUST be fully explained/justified, if not described in methods
• See guidebook regarding machine, electronic, and equipment purchases (typically NOT allowed)
• Publication costs are not permitted
Copying/Printing: $100

Discovery Day Poster Materials: $150

Total: $250

Travel: Indicate location, purpose of travel, provide itemized costs (list out each cost separately: transportation, lodging, registration, etc.). For
conferences, provide name of conference, dates, and explain why this conference is most appropriate. No more than $1000 is permitted for
conference travel.

Not Applicable

Additional Funding: List additional funding sources and dollar amounts, including both those that you have applied for and those that you
previously received, that will fund aspects of this project. Explicitly state how the funds requested in the Magellan Scholar proposal will be used
differently from the funds requested/awarded through other grants.

Not applicable