The Domestic Violence Arrest Decision: Examining Demographic, Attitudinal, and Situational Variables

Abstract

The effects of demographic, attitudinal, and situational variables on the domestic violence arrest decision were investigated using official data and officer attitudinal data. We examined some variables never before studied in this context (e.g., the demographic characteristics of officers) and improved on the measurement of many variables (e.g., victim cooperativeness, victim injury, and time of shift). Logit analyses clarified those factors that significantly impacted the arrest decision and identified how officers arrived at a determination of a victim's cooperativeness. The findings supported previous research that has highlighted the importance of situational variables in the arrest decision.