Coping or Copping Out: Police Service Delivery in Domestic Disputes

Abstract

The literature of domestic violence is critical of police service dlivery in dmnestic disputes. Yet, little has been systematically documented regarding dispatch procedures, citizen‐police interactions, or the special circumstances surrounding domestic investigations. This article describes the actions of investigating officers with family or intimately related persons during police encounters. It wmpares these with like investigations of non‐related disputants. Among the major findings are that (1)dispatch tend to underreport the nature of domestic assaults; (2) patrol officers face mme agitated persons in domestic en‐ ccuunters; (3) police arrest suspects more often in domestic cases, but circumstances would appear to warrant even higher rates of arrest; (4) misis intervention appears to take precedence over arrest in some domestic assaults; and (5) police almost never refer citizens to social service agencies. Overall, the findings point to ule need for police service delivery in domestic disputes that is w e geared to law enforcement in cases of violent family Conflict.

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