NCJ Number
206333
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2004 Pages: 69-80
Date Published
April 2004
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared the demographic characteristics, severity of violence, and criminal histories of men and women arrested for assaulting their intimate partners.
Abstract
Since the implementation of proarrest policies in cases of domestic violence, there has been a noted increase in the number of women arrested for assaulting their partners. One explanation holds that police officers are demonstrating their disapproval of these policies by arresting the female victim or both parties in domestic violence cases. An alternative explanation contends that police are impartially enforcing the law and the increase in female arrests for domestic assault reflects their involvement in the violent situation. The current study speaks to this debate by examining how female and male domestic assault arrestees differ across demographic, instant arrest, and criminal history factors. Participants were 6,704 individuals, 5,578 men and 1,126 women, who were arrested for misdemeanor or felony domestic violence assault in Shelby County, TN, between December 1997 and March 2001. Data were obtained from jail release records and, in 35 percent of the cases, from telephone interviews with the victims. Results of statistical analyses revealed that female arrestees were significantly less likely than males to have criminal histories. When risk assessment items were considered, male arrestees represented a significantly greater risk to the community than female arrestees. Female arrestees in this study were also more likely than males to experience a dual arrest. Findings on the severity of the instant offense indicated that female arrestees were more likely than males to be charged with felony assault and to have used a weapon. However, female arrestees were no more likely than males to have injured their partner during the event. Policy implications of the findings suggest that prosecutors and judges should carefully consider whether prosecution is warranted in the cases of women arrested for domestic assault. Most women in the current study did not have a background consistent with premeditated violence. The findings also bring up questions regarding the proper use of proarrest policies in cases of domestic violence. Limitations of the study include its small sample size. Tables, references