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What Do Citizens Want Police To Do At Domestics: Enforce the Law or Provide Services?

NCJ Number
141991
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 53-68
Author(s)
M G Breci; J E Murphy
Date Published
1992
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A sample of 777 adults in Minnesota participated in a telephone interview eliciting their views on police policy regarding domestic disturbances. The omnibus survey consisted of 62 questions focusing on various social and political issues, including four questions assessing the respondent's attitudes toward a police response to family violence calls, including intervention, police services, and mandatory arrest.
Abstract
The findings showed that the general population would favor mandatory arrest as a means of preventing family violence. These respondents also wanted police to provide services to domestic disputants, including referrals to social service agencies and problem resolution assistance. While both males and females advocated a police service role, females were more likely to support mandatory arrest than males. The findings also showed that females who were in abusive relationships were more likely to advocate an authority role for police than females who had not been in an abusive relationship or were not currently in a relationship. One possible model of police officer domestic violence training would be composed of crisis intervention, interpersonal conflict management, the structure and dynamics of conflict within the family, intervention models, and referral networks. 4 tables and 36 references