Analysis of Domestic Violence and Arrest Patterns in Vermont Using NIBRS Data

• NCJ Number: 241353
• Author(s): Robin Weber, J.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2012
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): VT11-2012-001
• Sponsoring Agency: Justice Research and Statistics Association
• Corporate Author: Vermont Ctr for Justice Research
• Sale Source: Vermont Ctr for Justice Research
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study provides a statewide look at domestic violence incidents using a variety of National IncidentBased Reporting System (NIBRS) data points including victim, offender, and crime circumstance data.

Abstract

The analysis indicates that the most common domestic violence incidents in Vermont involve a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, where the body is used as a weapon in the act of violence. The report also undertakes an analysis of police response to domestic violence incidents. Statewide results suggest that approximately 80 percent of all domestic violence incidents were cleared by arrest. Analysis indicated that in some counties, 20 percent of cases did not end in arrest because the victim refused to cooperate with law enforcement. Cases handled by the Vermont State Police are more likely to encounter victim refusals than cases handled by municipal police or sheriffs. Approximately 60 percent of cases that ended in arrest ended in a custodial arrest of the defendant versus a citation to appear. In an attempt to understand what factors were related to custodial arrest the researcher conducted logistic regression analysis. Findings suggest that key factors related to custodial arrest are the agency type, the gender of the offender, whether the offender was using alcohol, and the nature of the offense. Charts and appendix