DVSA Dataset

WARNING! DATA USE RESTRICTIONS

Read carefully before using data from Rhode Island Supreme Court Domestic Violence Training and Monitoring Unit (DVU) 

Confidentiality in Dataset/Public Use 

     Federal law and regulations provide that research data or statistics collected by the United States Department of Justice or by one or any of its grantees and contractors (DVU) may be used only for the purposes of statistical reporting and analysis. This data may not be used to identify private individuals and is immune from use in legal proceedings. The applicable laws and regulations may be found in the United States Code, 42USC Section 3789g(a), and the Code of Federal Regulations, 28 CGR 22 (National Archive of Criminal Justice Data).  Be advised that state/local laws relevant to human subject confidentiality may also exist. 

     The DVU has altered the full Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (DV/SA) Dataset for public viewing, printing, and downloading. This has been done to protect the confidentiality of the victims.  DV/SA Reports, separate from the DV/SA Dataset, have not been altered as the victims are not used in the reports.  Also altered is a DV/SA 200 record sample dataset, a test file provided as a utility for purposes of import function, the testing of computer programs, etc. While this test sample is a fair numerical representation of records across Rhode Island, it is not a "random" sample and is not meant to be used for analysis. 

Datasets: Direct identifiers such as name, street address, city/town, zip code, phone number, and involved law enforcement agencies have been removed altogether. Dates of birth, viewed by some as direct identifiers, have been converted to ages (non-specific). 

     Other data variables which might possibly act as indirect identifiers have been separated from their data records and put into summaries. For example, one or more data from any number of over 14,000 records may be expressed in a single summary. Through the use of summaries the more sensitive DV/SA data can be viewed and used for research while still protecting the integrity of human subject and agency confidentiality. 

     Users please understand that by printing or downloading data from either the DV/SA Datasets or the DV/SA Reports, you have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the data. By continuing past this point you signify your understanding of the above-stated information and your agreement and compliance with the below-stated requirements and restrictions. 

     The DV/SA Dataset and the DV/SA Reports on this website are the property of the Rhode Island Judiciary. These data, as reported by Rhode Island Law Enforcement, come from statewide legislatively mandated Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault/Child Molestation Police Reporting Forms known as the DV/SA Form. 

     Users are prohibited from making any numerical data changes. Users may choose to work with only a part of the datasets or reports but may not, in any way, change the integrity of data numbers. Users are prohibited from attempting to discover the identity of any human subject within the data and agree to notify the DV T&M Unit immediately if such a discovery is made inadvertently. Users are prohibited from attempting to produce any link(s) between the DV/SA Datasets or DV/SA Reports and any other datasets or reports that might make possible the individual identities of human subjects within DV/SA Data. 

Reports/Print or Download

    If the visitor/user wishes to view, print or download data, the visitor/user must agree to the following: 

"I/we promise to be constantly respectful of these data I/we are about to view/use, and to be conscientious in how I/we view/use data. I/we promise that I/we will not change the numerical integrity of the DV/SA data in any way. I/we also promise that if I/we present this data, I/we will give credit for the collection of these data to the DVU. Above all else, including my own or any agency/institution goal(s), I/we will remain mindful that under no circumstances will I/we view/use these data in any way that may endanger or compromise the confidentiality of the human subjects or agencies involved or that may compromise the integrity of the work done by the DVU." 

     User, please be advised that all visits by users printing DV/SA Reports or downloading data from the DV/SA Dataset will be documented through tracking software. 

     By continuing past this point in the data retrieval process, you (the user) signify your understanding of the above information and your agreement to comply with the above-stated requirements. 

     If you do NOT agree with the above, click below and you will return to the home page. 

     If you do agree with the above and wish to access the DV/SA Datasets or Reports, please click below.