NCJ Number
69419
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD., IN 1976-77, SHOWS SUCH VIOLENCE CONSTITUTES 17.8 PECENT OF POLICE REPORTS, WITH MOST VICTIMS BEING FEMALE AND MOST SUSPECTS MALE.
Abstract
THE STUDY EXAMINED 675 POLICE REPORTS AND YIELDED 120 REPORTS ON THE FAMILY VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, OF AN AVERAGE OF 200 DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE COMPLAINTS FILED PER MONTH, ONLY 3 PERCENT REACH REPORT FORM. FROM THE REPORTS, VICTIMS TENDED TO BE WHITE FEMALES BETWEEN 1 AND 20, WHILE SUSPECTS TENDED TO BE MALES BETWEEN 11 AND 30; SUSPECTS GENERALLY VICTIMIZED WIVES, CHILDREN, OR PARENTS. OF THE OFFENSES, 54 PERCENT WERE SIMPLE ASSAULTS SUCH AS THREATS OR BLOWS WITH THE FIST, WHILE 45 PERCENT WERE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, (WITH 25 PERCENT OF THESE BEING SEXUAL ASSAULT OR CHILD ABUSE). ABOUT 32 PERCENT OF THE REPORTS INDICATED THAT EITHER VICTIM OR SUSPECT WAS HOSPITALIZED; FURTHER, DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WERE INVOLVED IN 23 PERCENT OF ALL CASES. VICTIMS AND SUSPECTS TENDED TO BE LIVING TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, A LARGE PORTION OF REPORTS INVOLVED ABUSE OF PARENTS BY CHILDREN. A WIDE VARIETY OF WEAPONS APPEAR IN REPORTS, WITH 24 PERCENT OF ALL WEAPONS BEING HANDGUNS. FAMILY VIOLENCE AS REVEALED IN THIS STUDY COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND OFTEN POSES A DANGER TO POLICE OFFICERS. HOWEVER, MUCH FAMILY VIOLENCE IS UNDOCUMENTED SINCE THE ANNE ARUNDEL POLICE DO NOT KEEP A RECORD OF CALLS FROM WHICH COMPLAINTS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE TRYING NONTRADITIONAL, NONPOLICE FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES OR INTERVENTION, FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES AND VIOLENT FAMILIES, AND EXAMINING FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAMS IN OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES. TABLES, GRAPHS, AND A MAP ARE INCLUDED.