Police Handling of Domestic Violence Calls

Abstract

Summary. This study compares the rates and correlates associated with an arrest response when police respond to domestic assault calls in one jurisdiction at one point in time through two different methodological approachespolice self-report and case record analysis. While police self-reported a high likelihood to arrest (approximately a 60% rate of arrest), police reports indicated a much lower rate of arrest (20%). However, the two methodologies showed greater similarities in terms of correlates associated with this arrest response. Specifically, both indicated the predominance of situational factors over officer, offender or victim characteristics.