NCJ Number
113706
Date Published
1988
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The victim-offender relationship as a determinant of police dispositions of domestic disputes was investigated in data for 13,706 incidents reported to Ohio police during a 5-month period in 1979.
Abstract
These incidents produced a low tendency to result in criminal complaints under the Ohio Domestic Violence Program, a moderate tendency to result in criminal complaints under the Ohio Revised Code, and a very strong tendency not to result in criminal complaints overall. Only 3,451 incidents resulted in criminal complaints. In cases where criminal complaints were initiated there was a very strong tendency to arrest offenders under the Domestic Violence Program, a strong tendency to arrest under the Revised Code, and a moderate tendency to provide referrals under the Revised Code. In incidents where criminal complaints were not initiated, there was a moderate tendency to arrest offenders under the Revised Code or to provide referrals and a very strong tendency for the police to take no action. Wives were the victims in 67 percent of incidents, mothers in 5 percent, fathers in 2 percent, children in 9 percent, and other family members in 7 percent. When wives were victims they were more likely to be injured or killed than other family members. Compared to other family members, wives were more likely to report the victimization to police. Police were more likely to arrest the offender when the victim was a wife, rather than some other family member. While complaints were initiated in 25 percent of cases, offenders were arrested in only 16 percent, suggesting that police do not arrest as many offenders as justified. 3 tables and 40 references.