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Domestic Violence in Suburban San Diego: A Year's Research

NCJ Number
149336
Author(s)
N W Storer; W D Flores
Date Published
1994
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This research project, initiated to assess basic aspects of domestic violence in San Diego, California, relied on one-page questionnaires that accompanied crime reports on domestic violence incidents.
Abstract
A total of 928 domestic violence incidents were recorded during the study year, five of which did not involve altercations between cohabitating partners. The remaining 923 incidents primarily occurred in less affluent areas of San Diego. Minority groups were overrepresented in violent incidents. Violence occurred most frequently in the evening and was least frequent during the early morning hours. The likelihood of violence increased on weekends, but not as markedly as expected. Fewer than half of victims, 86 percent female, suffered visible injury, and 62 percent of aggressors had not used alcohol or other drugs. When alcohol was involved, a significant increase occurred in the injury rate, injury severity, the arrest rate, and time that deputies spent on incidents. No prior violence had occurred in about 20 percent of the incidents. Perpetrators of violence are described in terms of gender, age, domestic relationship, ethnicity, and socioeconomic indicators. Data are provided on repeat violent offenders and arrests made by the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Implications of the research findings for violence prevention are discussed. An appendix contains information on the statistical significance of research data. Tables and figures