IMPROVE Publications
You can find all of IMPROVE’s peer-reviewed scientific publications below and a selection of other activities like talks and poster presentations.
The public Deliverable reports are located on the Results page. Also visit our Zenodo community for a collection of IMPROVE’s publications and Deliverable Reports.
Peer-reviewed journal publications
Challenges in DV risk assessment in police work (2025)
Original title: Lähisuhdeväkivallan riskinarvioinnin haasteet poliisiorganisaatiossa
Authors: Mela, Nipuli, Houtsonen and October
Journal: Kriminologia Vol 5 nr 1, Suomen Kriminologinen Yhdistys ryHelsinki, 2025, 58-74
Goal: This study aims to examine the risk assessment of intimate partner violence in police emergency responses, criminal investigations, and multi-agency cooperation in Finland, specifically investigating how risk factors are identified and documented by the police, and the potential challenges and explanations for these processes.
Read the full article HERE (in Finnish).
Empowering Change: Unveiling the Synergy of Feminist Perspectives and AI Tools in Addressing Domestic Violence (2024)
Authors: Sanz Urquijo, B., Izaguirre Choperena, A., & López Belloso, M.
Journal: Communication Papers. Media Literacy and Gender Studies, 13(27), 2024, 49–75
Goal: Exploring the potential for AI-based tools, particularly chatbots, to support women experiencing domestic violence while integrating critical feminist insights to minimise the risks of exacerbating existing power dynamics.
Read the full article HERE.
Latency and Surfacing in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence (2024)
Original title: Látencia és felszínre kerülés kapcsolati erőszak esetén
Authors: Gábor Héra, Mónika Füstös, Zoltán Mészáros
Journal: Belügyi Szemle, Évf. 72 szám 11, 2024
Goal: The aim of the study is to highlight methodological problems in estimating the incidence of domestic violence. It also aims to provide information on why domestic violence is not reported.
Embedded social workers within police organizations: Comparing domestic violence interventions in France and Finland (2024)
Authors: François Bonnet, Thierry Delpeuch, Jarmo Houtsonen, Marianne Mela
Journal: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Volume 18, 2024
Goal: This article examines police–social work partnerships in addressing domestic violence through the embedded social worker type of arrangement in France and Finland.
Intimate partner homicide: Risk constellations in separation conflicts and points of intervention for the police (2024)
Authors: Stefanie Horn, Catharina Vogt, Chiara Wüller, Thomas Görgen
Journal: Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Volume 18, 2024
Goal: The study evaluates the advantages of inter-institutional cooperation over individual police prevention measures in cases of fatal partner violence.
Read the full article HERE
The Study of Gender-Based Violence Through a Narrative Approach: Evidence From the IMPROVE European Project (2024)
Authors: Lorea Romero Gutierrez, Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena, María López Belloso
Journal: Soc. Sci. 2024, 13, 330.
Goal: The goal of this study is to use narrative interviews with women victim-survivors of gender-based violence to gain an in-depth understanding of their experiences and the help offered by frontline responder organizations, thereby generating new knowledge to propose improvements to support services.
Read the full article HERE
The Potential of Restorative Approaches in Domestic Violence Cases to Contribute to More Victim-Centred Responses – Based on the Experiences of Two Field-based Research Programs (2023)
Authors: Gabor Hera, Dora Szego
Journal: TEMIDA 2023, vol. 26, br. 3, str. 345-363
Goal: The article aims to discuss the opportunities for a restorative approach in domestic violence (DV) cases based on the results of two empirical research. After describing the victims’ perspective, we introduce the shortcomings of institutional frontline responses that hinder the effective prevention and fight against domestic violence. At the end of the paper, some local support initiatives for victims of DV are described. We examine the aspects of these initiatives that bring them close to the e restorative approach – although they do not explicitly label themselves as restorative.
Read the full article HERE
Other journal publications
Obstacles and challenges for victims of domestic violence in vulnerable situations in Europe and Reunion Island (2025)
Original Title: Obstacles et défis pour les victimes de violences conjugales en situation de vulnérabilité en Europe et à La Réunion
Authors: Margarita Vassileva
Journal: Revue scientifique sur les violences conjugales, Issue 1, April 2025, Pages 29-38
Goal: Based on the results of the European project IMPROVE, this article aims to identify the obstacles that victims of domestic violence, particularly those in vulnerable situations in La Réunion, may encounter when trying to access protection and support services, and to propose a typology of these barriers to help local actors evaluate existing systems.
Read the full article HERE (in French).
Artificial intelligence at the service of victims (2025)
Original Title: L’intelligence artificielle au service des victimes de violences conjugales
Authors: Margarita Vassileva
Journal: Revue scientifique sur les violences conjugales, Issue 1, April 2025, Page 66
Goal: This article aims to describe AinoAid™, an innovative chatbot tool being piloted in La Réunion as part of the IMPROVE research project, detailing its functionalities for assisting victims, their relatives, witnesses, and professionals in combating domestic violence, and highlighting the co-creative process reliant on user feedback for its refinement.
Read the full article HERE (in French).
Case conferences as part of high-risk management in cases of domestic violence (2025)
Original Title: Fallkonferenzen im Rahmen des Hochrisikomanagements bei häuslicher Gewalt
Authors: Catharina Vogt, Stefanie Giljohann
Journal: Kriminalistik, Volume 3, 2025, Pages 130-135
Goal: This article aims to provide an overview of critical aspects identified in research projects (notably IMPRODOVA and IMPROVE) at the German Police University concerning the implementation of risk analysis, case conferences, risk management, and network collaboration in high-risk domestic violence cases, as required by the Istanbul Convention in Germany.
Read the full article HERE (in German).
Poster presentations
Victims’ pathways to support in domestic violence contexts
Authors: Catharina Vogt, Stefan Hopf, Emanuel Tananau Blumenschein, Norbert Leonhardmair, Joachim Kersten, Natalie Köpsel, Sandra González Cabezas, Hilde Hellbernd, Jarmo Houtsonen, Ainhoa Izaguirre Choperena, María Lopez Belloso, Angelika May, Marianne Mela, Suvi Nipuli, Seija Parekh, Lorea Romero Gutierrez, Margarita Vassileva
Event: Stockholm Criminology Conference, 10–12 June 2024
Content:
Statistics on domestic violence by intimate (ex-) partners
Determinants of successfully reaching help systems and support
Pathways to helping victims
Download the full poster HERE
Books and book chapters
Nuevas formas de atención a situaciones de violencias de género: la irrupción de la inteligencia artificial en la atención a las mujeres víctimas (2024)
Authors: Lopez Belloso, María; Izaguirre Choperena, Ainhoa
Cuadernos Deusto de Derechos Humanos, ISSN: 2603-5766 / ISSN-L: 2603-5766La invisibilidad de la infancia en la respuesta de los Servicios de apoyo a las mujeres que sufren violencia de género: Evidencias del proyecto IMPROVE (2024)
Authors: : Izaguirre Choperena, Ainhoa; Romero Gutierrez, Lorea; Lopez Belloso, María
In: Educar para la felicidad
ISSN: 978-84-1170-942-2
Talks
A Comparative Analysis of the Covid lockdowns and Domestic Violence in 8 European Countries (2022)
Speakers: Joachim Kersten, Þýski lögregluháskólinn
Event: Policing and Society Conference October 5/6, 2022, The Police Science Program at the University of Akureyri (Iceland)
Our project coordinator, Joachim Kersten, talked about the IMPROVE and IMPRODOVA project during this conference.
Download the full programme HERE
Theses/dissertations
Isildutako ahotsak: Genero Indarkeriaren biktima diren emakume errefuxiatuen borrokak - Silenced Voices: The Struggles of Refugee Women Who Suffer Gender-Based Violence (2024)
Authors: G Z, J., Izaguirre Choperena, AinhoaAbordando la Violencia Machista: Desafíos y perspectivas desde la experiencia de mujeres migrantes víctimas de violencia machista - Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Challenges and Perspectives from the Experience of Migrant Women Victims of Gender-Based Violence (2024)
Authors: F A, L., Segú Odriozola, Mabel., Izaguirre Choperena, Ainhoa