NCJ Number
123779
Journal
Response to the Victimization of Women and Children Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1989) Pages: 7-13
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This investigation assessed police response to domestic violence during 1986 in relation to two Texas laws.
Abstract
In 1979, the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing police officers to make a warrantless arrest if there was probable cause to believe that an assault resulting in bodily injury had occurred. In 1985, a chapter on domestic violence was added to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to stress both the seriousness and the criminal nature of domestic violence. The investigation sought to determine whether police enforcement of the 1979 law changed following the 1985 legislation. Emphasis was placed on three aspects of police response: arrival at the scene of assault when called; arrest of the alleged perpetrator; and the filing of charges. The study focused on the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff's Department. It covered victims of domestic abuse whose violent incident occurred during 1986 and where the perpetrator's relationship to the victim was spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. Findings revealed that police were called to the scene in 81.6 percent of the cases. There was no increase in arrests following the 1985 legislation. Only 44 percent of the perpetrators were arrested despite injuries sustained by the victim and only 45 percent of the perpetrators who threatened the victim with a gun or knife, or actually used those weapons, were arrested. 19 references, 4 tables, 2 figures.