The victim‐offender relationship as a determinant factor in police dispositions of family violence incidents: A replication study

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Abstract
This is a study of the victim‐offender relationship as a determinant factor in police dispositions of domestic dispute and family violence incidents. These data suggest that victims of family violence have predominantly been wives. Although a majority of reported domestic disputes have not resulted in the police taking any action, in family violence incidents where wives were the victim and initiated a criminal complaint, the police tended to arrest the offender under provisions of the Ohio Domestic Violence Program. When other family members were the victim, the police tended to arrest the offender under other Ohio Revised Code violations, such as assault. However, there was evidence to suggest that the police avoided arresting offenders by providing referrals to other agencies. To provide adequate protection to victims of family violence the police must be trained in family violence intervention so that, in appropriate situations, they will: (a) accept criminal complaints from victims of family violence, (b) invoke criminal processes based on the victim's complaint, (c) initiate criminal complaints in cases where the victims are incapable or unwilling to do so, and (d) where arrests are not feasible refer victims and/or offenders to auxiliary community service agencies.

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