Unintended Side Effects of Pro-arrest Policies and Their Race and Class Implications for Battered Women: A Cautionary Note

• NCJ Number: 130004
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (1989) Pages: 299-317
• Author(s): S L Miller
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of policies favoring arrest as a way to address spouse abuse argues that such policies may affect different victims differently and that qualitative rather than quantitative research methodologies will be needed to determine the subtle effects of pro-arrest policies.

Abstract

Although laws holding batterers accountable for their actions are welcome in a society in which woman abusers have historically been tolerated, the new legislation may have unintended consequences. Thus, mandatory arrests laws may disproportionately affect minority women or women from lower socioeconomic groups because these women have fewer alternatives for settling abuse privately and face lost income if the batterer is jailed. Recurrences of violence is another potential consequence. To determine the effects of policies, researchers should use appropriate samples, analyze results across races and classes, gather data from victims and professionals, and include both qualitative and quantitative techniques. 86 references