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Characteristics of Victims Coarrested for Intimate Partner Violence

NCJ Number
235267
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2006 Pages: 1483-1492
Author(s)
Debra Houry; Sudha Reddy; Constance Parramore
Date Published
November 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the frequency of coarrest in female victims who utilized 911 for intimate partner violence (IPV) and any patterns or circumstances that increased the likelihood of coarrest.
Abstract
All cases of police-documented IPV where a female IPV victim was arrested in conjunction with the perpetrator were included. Each incident report was reviewed to determine demographic characteristics of the victim, weapon and substance involvement, presence of children, and violence severity. Of IPV victims, 9 percent (131 of 1,489) were arrested. Having a weapon, alcohol use, not being married, and older age were associated with increased likelihood of arrest (p less than .001). The presence of a child decreased the likelihood of victim arrest (p less than .001). Race, prior incidents of IPV, offender restraining order, and incident severity were not significantly associated with coarrest. Although coarrest occurred in a minority of cases, it may deter victims from contacting police for future incidents of police. (Published Abstract)