NCJ Number
247959
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 29 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2014 Pages: 507-518
Date Published
July 2014
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Police departments across North America have adopted pro-arrest policies in intimate partner violence (IPV) cases with the intent of constraining police discretion and providing better protection for IPV victims.
Abstract
Police departments across North America have adopted pro-arrest policies in intimate partner violence (IPV) cases with the intent of constraining police discretion and providing better protection for IPV victims. It has been suggested that an unintended consequence of pro-arrest policies has been an increase in the number of women arrested for IPV when their behavior is defensive rather than aggressive. Concern about inappropriate arrests of women is particularly pronounced in cases of dual arrest. This study examines the arrests and court processing of 2,736 women in heterosexual relationships accused of IPV offences in Winnipeg, Canada. The characteristics of accused and court processing of dual and sole arrested women are examined. Dual arrested women are less likely to be prosecuted than sole arrested women. We explore whether an effective 'primary aggressor' policy can reduce dual arrests, which are the cases most likely to be dropped at the prosecution level. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.