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Using a statewide survey, this exploratory, cross-sectional study examined 78 domestic violence (DV) service organizations' service delivery practices and perceived challenges to serving Latinx survivors in the context of rurality. Findings showed that DV organizations in rural areas perceived more challenges to delivering culturally appropriate services for Latinx survivors compared to those in other geographic settings even after accounting for client characteristics, service provision characteristics, and community resources. The study finding offers critical insights to ensure and enhance the provision of linguistically and culturally accessible services for rural Latinx survivors of intimate partner violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social issue with numerous detrimental effects on individuals, families, and society. Existing research and a social-ecological minority stress framework suggest, as compared with mixed-sex couples, those in same-sex relationships may be at heightened risk for perpetrating and experiencing IPV. Using a U.S. sample of college students (N = 4,081), this secondary data analysis contrasted the prevalence of five forms of IPV (i.e., physical, sexual, psychological, injury, any type) between those in mixed-sex (n = 3,960) and those in same-sex (n = 121) intimate partnerships. Comparative analyses were supplemented with propensity score weighting to help balance members of mixed-sex and same-sex relationships across eight potentially confounding variables (e.g., biological sex, age). Prior to the application of propensity score weighting, results suggested those in same-sex relationships are significantly more likely to perpetrate and/or experience IPV resulting in physical injury. Results from post-weighting analyses retained the significance and magnitude of model estimates. Taken together, results suggest, as compared with mixed-sex couples, U.S. college students in same-sex couples have greater odds of experiencing IPV perpetration and victimization resulting in physical injury, even after accounting for the influence of several potentially confounding variables. Findings support the utility and future application of propensity score analytic techniques in this type of research as well as the importance of recognizing the unique IPV risk and service needs of people in same-sex relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health courts: Mental health courts are specialty treatment courts designed to connect individuals with mental illnesses to community-based treatment and other resources. Individuals with Mental Illnesses in the Criminal Legal System: Complex Issues and Best Practices 1 Who have severe mental illnesses face complex challenges related to housing instability, substance use, unemployment, trauma, comorbid physical health challenges, and symptoms of mental illnesses that make them more difficult to supervise (Garcia & Abukhadra, 2021; Givens & Cuddeback, 2021; Lurigio et al., 2003). Also, although there are other mental health diagnoses, such as dysthymia, anxiety disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder, severe and persistent mental illness-often shortened to SPMI or SMI-is used to describe those with debilitating mental illnesses. [Extracted from the article]