Web resource:	http://www.nber.org/papers/w13186.pdf
Type:	Electronic publication
Title:	Does the certainty of arrest reduce domestic violence? : evidence from mandatory and recommended arrest lawsNBER Working Papers
Authors:	Iyengar, Radha
Keywords:	Policing;Homicide
Year:	2007
Publisher:	National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge
Citation:	w13186
Notes:	General Overview: This paper examines intimate partner homicide rates in United States (US) jurisdictions with laws mandating arrest for domestic violence, and finds that homicide rates increased after the laws were introduced. Methods: As many domestic assaults go unreported, the author used rates of intimate partner homicide to measure the prevalence of domestic assault. Other studies have shown that there is a strong link between intimate partner homicide and domestic assault prevalence. Results: The results suggest that mandatory arrest laws are responsible for an additional 0.8 murders per 100 000 people, which corresponds to a 54% increase in intimate partner homicide. This increase was not seen in states with recommended arrest laws or in rates of homicide against other family members, acquaintances or strangers. The increase persisted when controls for demographics, economic conditions and social policies were included. Discussion:The author considers that these unexpected results may be because abuse victims are less likely to contact the police in the face of a mandatory arrest law. This failure to contact the police results in fewer interventions and an increased risk of escalating violence.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/21313
Physical description:	33 p.
Appears in Collections:	Online resource

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