U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Making Arrests in Domestic Violence Cases: What Police Should Know
NCJ Number
              225458

Author(s)
          David  Hirschel Ph.D.
Date Published

June 2009
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              Based on data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and a multistate survey of incident records kept by police, this study examined police arrest practices in domestic violence cases, with attention to "dual arrests" (both parties in a domestic violence incident are arrested).
Abstract
              The research found that police arrested men and women with equal frequency when other factors, such as seriousness of offense, were taken into account. Police were equally likely to make arrests in same-sex and heterosexual incidents; however, police were more likely to make dual arrests when responding to an incident that involved a same-sex couple. Police made the highest number of dual arrests in jurisdictions with mandatory arrest laws, particularly if State laws or departmental policies did not instruct officers to arrest only the main offender at the scene of a domestic violence incident. Jurisdictions with such primary aggressor laws reported one-fourth the dual arrest rate of jurisdictions without such policies or laws. Officers were four times more likely to make an arrest if an offender stayed at the scene of the offense. If the offender left the scene, the officers were unlikely to follow up and obtain an arrest warrant; even if a warrant was obtained, it might not be served. Three recommendations are offered for lowering dual arrest rates and making arrests more effective. First, police should commit to arresting offenders who have left the crime scene.  Second, officers should be trained to recognize patterns of abuse in same-sex relationships, so as to identify the primary aggressor for arrest. Third, police executives and lawmakers should institute primary-aggressor laws and policies. 2 notes
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: June 1, 2009
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Arrests
        Domestic assault
        Domestic assault arrest policies
        Law enforcement
        Police policies and procedures



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Present but not Prevalent: Identifying the Organizational Correlates of Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in U.S. Law Enforcement
                  Experiences of Immigrant Women Who Self-Petition Under the Violence Against Women Act
                  Vapor Pressure Measurements on Linalool Using a Rapid and Inexpensive Method Suitable for Cannabis-Associated Terpenes
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov