Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This research investigates whether state domestic violence arrest policies affect the probability of actual domestic violence arrests in multiple jurisdictions compared to the arrest of other violent felonies. State policies on arrest of domestic violence cases are analyzed and summarized. NIBRS data is used to determine the effect of state arrest policies on the probability of domestic violence arrests compared to other violent felonies. Multivariate analyses are used to assess the predictors of arrest in domestic violence cases. Overall, 42% of domestic violence cases result in arrest. States vary in the percentages of domestic violence cases that result in arrest and range from a low of 25% to a high of 52%. A logistic regression analysis indicates state domestic violence arrest policies do increase the probability of actual domestic violence arrests in some states, decrease the probability of arrests in other states, and have no effect in some states. In addition to state arrest polices, certain offense, victim, offender, and incident characteristics affect the probability of arrest. Domestic violence cases, younger offenders, younger victims, an absence of victim injury, and a female victim all significantly decrease the probability of arrest. Implications for domestic violence policy and law enforcement practice are explored.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: We examine 2003 data from the FBI's National Incident Reporting System to determine whether official data indicates that offenses such as harassment, intimidation, simple assault, and aggravated assault are more or less likely to become known to law enforcement for adolescent females that males, and how the likelihood of arrest differs for these offenses in 2003 by gender and age. Additionally these data will be examined by gender and age, while controlling for the victim-offender relationship, to discover how the likelihood of arrest varies by gender and age for these specific offenses.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The relationship between community structure and crime has received a great deal of research attention in criminology over the past two decades. Rising out of the traditions of Shaw and McKay, researchers have documented how structural changes in communities are related to crime rates in those areas. While the majority of these studies have focused on property and violent crimes, few studies have investigated the relationship between social structure and race-specific drug arrests. Moreover most studies investigating structural correlates of crime have used decennial time periods and typically employ change score techniques, only allowing between-city comparisons, while neglecting within-city comparisons. Employing techniques used to study the life-course of individual offenders, this research aims to treat the city as the individual and create distinct trajectories of drug arrest rates over time. Assuming that cities behave differently, this research will shed light on how structural changes in cities affect cities with differing trajectories over time. In addition, it will provide insight into the issue of racial discrepancies in drug arrests that have been documented over the past several decades, and attempt to highlight what structural factors are related to race-specific drug arrests for each distinct trajectory. The results of this study will be used to shed light on which U.S. cities may be in more need than others to receive assistance to rebuild their diminished communities.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Based on a questionnaire of 506 NYPD officers who patrol regularly, a group of 94 who reported making three or more arrests in the previous month were compared to 151 who reported making no arrests. The “Heavy Hitters” had greater ease in finding arrests, made a greater percentage of arrests in the last hour of their tour, and used more arrest-generating and fewer arrest-avoiding tactics. They felt more dependent on arrest overtime, despite economic circumstances similar to the No-Arrest group. High-Arresters also held stronger pro-arrest attitudes, had fewer post-tour child-care commitments, and were less “turned-off” by the arrest-processing ordeal.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Following the enactment of pro-arrest policies for family violence increased arrests of women, as well as men, have occurred. Explanations for increased arrests of women include that women are being arrested inappropriately as their violence toward their partners occurred in the course of defending themselves against attack, having been falsely accused by their male batterers of engaging in violence, or for their aggressive and disrespectful interactions with police. Using data from a convenience sample of computerized dispatch records (n = 1,82) and police reports (n = 307) for family violence incidents reported for four consecutive weekends, the validity of explanations for women’s arrests will be explored. Based on police incident reports, women were identified as primary aggressors in 25.4% of the cases. In 20.5% of the incidents reported an arrest was made (n = 63). Of the 67 individuals arrested, 16 women were identified as primary aggressors. Dual arrests occurred in only four incidents. The victim was identified as a present or former spouse in over half of the incidents where women were arrested, whereas the victim was identified as a present or former spouse in less than one quarter of the incidents where men were arrested. Narratives of police incident reports were examined to identify if officers noted women’s demeanor and interactions with police, use of alcohol or drugs by women , evidence of self defensive actions by women, and statements by the women’s partners that the women engaged in violence. Implications for policy are discussed.