Why Do Police Arrest Victims of Domestic Violence? The Need for Comprehensive Training and Investigative Protocols

Psychoanalysis and Domestic Violence: Exploring the Application of Object Relations Theory in Social Work Field Placement

“…By making repeated reference to ''couples who are violent'' and ''cycles of conflict,'' Zosky negated the structural presence of male power that exists in the majority of domestically violent relationships. O'Dell (2007) referred to this trend in DV literature as ''the myth of mutual combat'' and emphasized that ''[b]y it's very definition of power and control, violence, intimidation, and patterned history, mutual combat is rare in DV relationships'' (p. 57). The failure of Zosky and others to mention the systemic presence of male power and control in situations of domestic violence serves to perpetuate the myth of mutual combat and effectively take responsibility off of male perpetrators.…”

Improving Identification of Strangulation Injuries in Domestic Violence: Pilot Data From a Researcher–Practitioner Collaboration

“…Lack of visible injuries from this type of assault along with inadequate training on how to recognize and document signs and symptoms by first responders (e.g., police officers or emergency medical personnel) have resulted in a limited ability to protect victims and prosecute these felony cases to the fullest extent (Baker & Sommers, 2008; Laughon, Glass, & Worrell, 2009; Strack et al, 2001). Furthermore, the general lack of systematic law enforcement training on the topic (O’Dell, 2007) indicates that the prevalence of strangulation may be underreported. The ability to collect accurate prevalence data on strangulation and to link strangulation to severe forms of domestic violence such as homicide depends on the training of first responders to accurately identify and document strangulation injuries.…”

Citations and Convictions: One Community’s Coordinated Response to Intimate Partner Violence & Efforts toward Offender Accountability

“…This included the promotion of mandatory arrest laws in which law enforcement officers were required to arrest an IPV perpetration suspect if there was probable cause that an IPV offense occurred [30]. While the enactment of pro-arrest and mandatory arrest policies appear to have led to an increase in arrest rates for IPV perpetration [31], concerns have been raised that the most notable change has been the increase in the arrests of women in IPV situations [32,33], with the primary concern being that police officers are incorrectly identifying IPV victims as IPV perpetrators [34]. The arrests of women include cases in which they are identified solely as the perpetrator of IPV in the incident, as well as "dual arrest" cases in which both parties are arrested either because the evidence supports that they are both at fault, or the responding officer cannot make a determination of fault [35].…”