UT Tyler Professor Coordinates Family Violence Prevention Initiative
March 7, 2019
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Professor Coordinates Family Violence Prevention Initiative
Follow @UTTyler TweetMarch 7, 2019
Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303
The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that Dr. David Scott, assistant professor of criminal justice and public administration, is working with the Texas Council on Family Violence to address high-risk cases of domestic violence and provide services to victims.
Scott serves as policy coordinator of the Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams Grant Program, funded by the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office and the Office of the Attorney General. He oversees the awarding of grants to create and sustain Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams in cities across the state.
"The DVHRT concept recognizes that collaboration is critical to an effective response to family violence,'' Scott said. "Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams provide a coordinated response approach to identifying victims of domestic violence who are deemed to be at the highest risk for severe violence or lethality. Victims of these crimes require constant intercession of advocacy and the legal system.''
Each community selected as a DVHRT site works to develop a sustainable, collaborative program involving criminal justice officials and family violence program staff to prioritize victim safety, encourage victim participation in the systemic response and maximize offender accountability. Grants totaling nearly $597,000 have been awarded to 10 DVHRTs this year.
The program also includes a research component. Data collected from DVHRT sites will be analyzed to identify ways to improve domestic violence response efforts and establish best practices, Scott said.
A former police sergeant and police academy instructor, Scott holds a doctorate in public affairs and master's degrees in criminal justice, public administration and business administration. His academic research focuses on the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault investigations from the victim's perspective.
A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered. With more than 10,000 students, UT Tyler has facilities in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.