Indiana, South Korea partnership sheds new light on domestic violence across the world

A partnership between Purdue University and some top law enforcement agencies in South Korea is working to adapt U.S. procedures for handling domestic violence calls for South Korea. Pictured (from left to right) are Supt. Hyun Gun Song, South Korean Police; Capt. Terry Ruley, Tippecanoe County chief deputy; Sheriff Robert Goldsmith, Tippecanoe County; Capt. Robert Hainje, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office; Eric Dietz, Purdue University. (Image provided) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The way domestic violence calls are handled across the United States has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Now, instead of requiring that one of the parties involved in the call request action or filing charges, law enforcement officers routinely separate those involved during the initial visit and then require follow-up actions to ensure continued safety.

In South Korea today, similar to the U.S. decades ago, officers typically act only during those calls when one of the parties requests it. Now, a partnership between Purdue University and some top law enforcement agencies in South Korea is working to adapt U.S. procedures for handling domestic violence calls for South Korea.

Eric Dietz, a professor of computer and information technology in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, began the partnership when he was working to create opportunities for graduate students to study law enforcement policies in South Korea.

“I visited the Korean National Police University, which is similar to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point,” Dietz said. “We were able to connect with the superintendent of South Korean police and bring him over here to Greater Lafayette to research our response to domestic violence calls.”

The superintendent, Hyun Gun Song, has been riding along with officers and deputies to see how they respond to domestic violence and other calls. Song also has been working in Dietz’s lab to review statistics and data related to domestic violence calls and responses in the Tippecanoe County area. Dietz also has connected him with law enforcement agencies across Indiana.  

“This experience provides an opportunity to understand how the community and police work in partnership in central Indiana to create a system for stronger public safety,” Song said.  

Dietz, a Purdue alumnus from the College of Engineering and the founding executive director of Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security, has been working to apply quantitative data to determine the effectiveness of security policies.

“My lab and research is focused on quantitative data related to security,” Dietz said. “I immediately agreed to this opportunity to take part in research and the officer exchange.”

Bob Goldsmith, Tippecanoe County sheriff, said, “This is an excellent opportunity for not only Superintendent Song, but for deputies to work with an officer from another country.”

Dietz also has worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent technologies aimed at tracking and improving public safety. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization           

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University.    

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org 

Source: Eric Dietz, jedietz@purdue.edu