Factors Associated with Arrest Decision-Making in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): A Study of Police Officers in Region A

Police officers are the primary responders in handling IPV incidents. Past practices demonstrated that law enforcement agencies have developed particular policies, specialized units, and/or different types of training for effectively and efficiently dealing with intimate partner violence incidents. However, the number of IPV reports has continued to increase in the past decade in Region A, while the factors related to arrest decision-making among police officers are still unclear. Therefore, the current study aims to examine factors that can influence officers’ decision-making in three types of IPV scenarios (i.e., verbal abuse, same-sex cohabitant violence, and male victims of intimate partner violence).

Data collected from a quota sampling of 909 police officers were analyzed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the influence of job satisfaction, officer attitudes toward philosophy of community policing, officer attitudes toward victim requests, and officer willingness to enforce the IPV laws, along with the demographic and control variables on arrest decision-making in cases of IPV.

Findings derived from the SEM analysis highlighted the relevance of IPV training, past work experience, officer willingness to enforce the IPV laws, and officer attitudes toward victim requests in policing IPV.

Training endeavors to improve officer decision-making in cases of IPV are necessary. The consideration of victim requests was found in police officers’ use of discretion in cases of IPV, although not consistent across all participated officers. Therefore, equally important is to enhance victims’ awareness of IPV and encourage them to make a report or request for arrest in the absence of mandatory arrest policies.