Severity of Intimate Partner Violence and Occurrence and Frequency of Police Calls

• NCJ Number: 235217
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 1354-1364
• Author(s): Amy E. Bonomi; Victoria L. Holt; Diane P. Martin; Robert S. Thompson
• Date Published: October 2006
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article evaluates whether female victims of severe physical, psychological, or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) call police more often than other abused women.

Abstract

Abused women (431) reported frequency of contacting police (dependent variable), nature and severity of IPV experienced, and characteristics of themselves and their perpetrator (explanatory variables). A two-part regression model estimated likelihood of police contact among all participants and rate of contact among callers. Women with severe physical or psychological IPV or injury were more likely to call police than were other abused women. Among callers, women made 96 percent more calls if a weapon was involved, 58 percent more if they were severely sexually abused, and 40percent more if they were severely physically abused. Women with children at home made 32 percent more calls. These results delineate the level and types of IPV and other characteristics of homes that make single and repeat calls to police. (Published Abstract)