b'OVERALL, THESE FINDINGS BRING INTO QUESTIONTHE THEORY OF ESCALATION AND ADDS CREDENCE TOTHE DESISTANCE LITERATURE BY INDICATING THATEVEN OFFENDERS PREDICTED TO BE THE MOST DANGEROUSDESIST IN CRIMINAL OFFENDING.noted that the lack of escalation foundof high-harm IPV. In order to improveidentifies individuals that are likely to in this study may be a result of theidentification of risk, targeting infor- engage in repeat offending in general targeting impact that police and socialmation held by health care and socialbut not IPV specifically. It is hoped that serviceshaveonpredictedhigh-riskservices in relation to suicidal tenden- thisstudyhasprovidedcompelling offenders. This is due to the fact thatcies and IPV needs to be more widelyreasons to improve targeting efforts all of the victims in this study receivedsharedwithpolice.Usingautomaticaimed to reduce the highest harm IPV additionalsupportsandoutreachdigital tracking, these markers shouldoffending and to spark consideration compared to the general populationbe utilized to target the offenders atforevidence-basedchangeamong of IPV victims. Overall, these findingshighest risk of lethal IPV. executive decision makers.bringintoquestionthetheoryofThe final and most valuable policy escalation and adds credence to therecommendationistoinstitutean desistanceliteraturebyindicatingautomated digital tracking system ofMaria Wright serves as an Acting thatevenoffenderspredictedtothe forecasting model that includes allSergeant with the London Police Service. bethemostdangerousdesistinIPVoffenders.ThroughtrackingandThis article is a summary of a Thesis criminal offending. monitoringtheforecastingmodel,completed by her in part fulfilment Policy Implications managers will be able to identify theof the requirements for the masters falsenegativesandriskfactorsthatdegree in Applied Criminology and Severalrelevantpolicyimplicationscan be added to the model to improvePolice Management at Cambridge havebeenidentifiedthroughthisthe accuracy. By reducing false nega- University (2021). She can be reached at research.Firstandforemostisthetives,themostat-riskvictimswillMWright@londonpolice.ca.recommendationtoclearlydefinebe identified for outreach and patrol what it means for an offender to beofficerswillbebetterinformedand deemed high risk in order to under- preparedwhenattendingIPVcalls stand the validity of the forecastingthat have the potential for violence.Referencesmodel.Secondly,enhancementstoBland, M., & Ariel, B. (2015). Targeting escal-risk assessments should be exploredConclusion ation in reported domestic abuse: evidence giventhefindingthat71percentfrom 36,000 callouts. International Criminal ofhigh-harmoffenderswerenotThis study aimed to provide a fulsomeJustice Review, 25(1), 30-53.accountofbothhowoffendersareChambers-McClellan, A., (2002). Evidence for assessed as high risk. The use of databeingidentifiedforassessmentthe escalation of domestic violence in 911 call already held by police in identifyingrecords Doctoral dissertation, Medical College risk factors such as those with suicidalinLondon,Ontario,aswellastheof Georgia.post-identificationoffendingbehav- Sherman, L. (2007). The Power Few: tendenciesshouldbeconsiderediniour for those forecasted to be highExperimental Criminology and the Reduction order to identify the needle in theof Harm. Journal of Experimental Criminology, haystack (Sherman, 2007). risk.Thisresearchhasprovidedan3, 299321.explorationofboththetargetingSherman, L., & Berk, R.A., (1984). The specific Research conducted by the DVDRCpracticeandanassessmentofthedeterrent effects of arrest for domestic andotherssuggeststhatsuicidalaccuracy of the model by tracking theassault. American Sociological Review 49, 261-272.ideations and previous assaults com- outcomes. It is clear that the currentWalker, L.E., (1984). The battered woman mitted against a victim are predictorsprocess,utilizingprimarilyODARA,syndrome. New York, NY: Springer. The Official Publication of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police23'