Policing domestic violence: Does officer gender matter?

Preferences for Police Response to Domestic Violence: A Comparison of College Students in Three Chinese Societies

“…When they chose to intervene, non-arrest actions such as mediation, separation, and inaction, were more frequently employed than arrests (Buzawa and Buzawa 2003). The passage and adoption of mandatory or pro-arrest statutes and policies since the 1980s, along with the spread of victim assistance programs and fear of civil liability, pushed the U.S. police to act more consistently toward suspects and more responsively toward victims of domestic violence (Sun 2007).…”

“…Mixed results were also generated regarding whether police handled domestic violence cases differently from comparable non-domestic violence cases with some studies finding that arrest rates were higher for conflicts involved in family members and/or intimates than strangers (Bell 1985;Feder 1997;Hotaling and Buzawa 2001), while others reporting opposite findings (Buzawa et al 1996;Eigenberg et al 1996;Fyfe et al 1997;Sanders 1988). Nonetheless, it is found that with the domestic violence law reform, officers rendered more assistance to victims of domestic violence than victims of non-domestic conflicts (Bureau of Justice Statistics 1994; Sun 2007).…”

Officer gender and traffic ticket decisions: Police blue or women too?

“…In particular, some scholars advance a gender neutral position, while other scholars advance a gender matters position (Sun, 2007).…”

Gender and Police Leadership: Time for a Paradigm Shift?

“…There is a now a considerable evidence base that suggests that women officers: are less aggressive, use less force and adopt less confrontation styles in their interactions (Brown and Langan, 2001;McElvain and Kposowa, 2008;Waugh et al , 1998;Rabe-Hemp, 2008, 2009Schuck and Rabe-Hemp, 2005); adopt a higher ethical code of conduct ( Brereton, 1999;Corsianos, 2011;Lonsway, Wood and Spillar, 2000;Waugh, Ede & Alley, 1998;Fleming & Lafferty, 2003; demonstrate greater empathy and communication skills in serving the needs to women and children, especially those subject to violent or sexual abuse (Brown and King, 1998;Page, 2007;Schuller and Stewart, 2000;Sun 2007); have stronger relations with the community (Miller, 1999;Brown and Woolfenden, 2011; are better equipped in developing positive long term relationships in partnership working (O'Neil and McCarthy, 2012); and adopt more transformational leadership styles than their male counterparts (Brown, 2007;Silvestri, 2003and Heidensohn, 1992Rabe-Hemp, 2008;Whittred, 2008).…”