Cross-Cultural Analysis of Domestic Violence in a Minority Community and Police Response: A Case Study on Hmong Offenders

• NCJ Number: 216207
• Journal: International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2006 Pages: 49-74
• Author(s): Youngyol Yim
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey; Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using a survey of two police departments in Minnesota, this study examined officers' previous experience with domestic violence calls in the Hmong (mostly from Laos) community and how the officers responded to such cases.

Abstract

Findings show that police have dealt with domestic violence in the Hmong community differently than with such cases in the general population. Officers who had been involved with Hmong family violence were significantly less likely to arrest offenders than officers who had not handled such cases. Further, officers who believed that Hmong culture partly contributed to the high incidence of Hmong domestic violence were significantly less likely to arrest Hmong offenders than were officers who did not have such a belief. It may be that nonarresting officers have concluded that Hmong victims of domestic violence do not want the perpetrator arrested. Some victims withdraw their claims of physical abuse when interviewed by police, based on their belief in self-sacrifice in the interest of maintaining family harmony. Another finding was that among Hmong residents fewer calls to the police about domestic violence were made by the victims than by concerned members of the general population. Most officers believed that the law should be enforced fairly regardless of cultural difference. This suggests that officers are in conflict regarding how to handle domestic violence within the patriarchal values held by Hmong men and women. Research should examine this issue and how officers can both respect Hmong cultural values while pursuing policies that will deter violence against Hmong women. A total of 79 officers completed questionnaires between August and September 2002. The survey was designed to examine officers' experiences with domestic violence in the Hmong community, their perceptions of the relationship between Hmong culture and domestic violence, and their responses to domestic violence in Hmong families. 5 tables and 89 references