NCJ Number
131908
Journal
Policing and Society Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 225-234
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Data from 11,018 domestic violence incidents reported to Ohio police in 1979 and 1980 were studied.
Abstract
Victims were predominantly wives (73.6 percent) who were often injured or killed (51.1 percent). Police did not take action in a majority (56 percent) of reported incidents and referred an additional 24 percent to other service agencies. When they did take action when wives were the victim, they tended to arrest offenders under provisions of the Ohio Domestic Violence Program; when other family members were the victim, they tended to arrest under other Ohio Revised Code violations such as assault. Criminal complaints were initiated in 36 percent of the incidents, and arrests made in 19 percent. The disparity between the arrest rate and the injury-death rate indicate police reluctance to arrest violent domestic offenders although injury may be evident. Recommendations are that police should of their own volition initiate criminal complaint when victims are unable or unwilling to do so, and that victims should be informed of their options and encouraged, where appropriate, to initiate criminal complaints. 4 tables and 40 references (Author abstract modified)