NCJ Number
85091
Date Published
1983
Length
201 pages
Annotation
This study analyzes characteristics of and court responses to nonstranger violence cases in four diverse sites: the lower criminal courts of Charlotte, N.C., Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, and the upper court of Brooklyn, N.Y. Victim and defendant perceptions of and satisfaction with mediation programs in three of the cities are compared with similar indicators from court participants.
Abstract
A significant number of offenders in nonstranger cases were rearrested for other crimes; major changes in court practices may be required to reduce the consequences for victims. In Brooklyn, the only site where later arrest records were compiled for defendants in nonstranger violence cases, the rearrest rate was low for crimes committed against the original disputant, but 32 percent of the defendants were rearrested at least once, half for violent crimes. This suggests that some defendants develop patterns of violent behavior vented both within the home among family and friends and outside the home among strangers. Previous calls to police were the best predictor of continuing problems; for these 'high risk' cases, a more sustained form of intervention may be needed than is normally received through either mediation or court referral. A significant minority of victims was dissatisfied with legal officials and court processing. Satisfaction levels of victims processed by the court were similar to those processed in mediation. Topics for further research are suggested; footnotes and study data are provided. Appendixes include 20 references, study instruments, and site comparison data.