Police Response to Domestic Violence: Situations Involving Veterans Exhibiting Signs of Mental Illness

• In Event: 147 - Regular Session. Current Issues in Mental Health

Abstract

Military combat veterans have an increased risk of mental health problems, substance abuse, and domestic violence, often leading to situations involving police. Drawing on attribution theory, research on police discretion, and public attitudes towards mental illness, we examine whether police response to domestic violence situations involving veterans with signs of mental illness differs from situations involving non-veterans. Using data from experimental vignettes varying veteran status, victim injury, and suspect compliance administered to a sample of 309 police officers, results indicate that (1) veterans are seen as less responsible for troublesome behavior, but more dangerous than non-veterans, (2) suspects’ veteran status has a significant effect on officers’ preference for mental health treatment versus arrest, and (3) part of the effect of veteran status on officers response is mediated by internal and external attributions for problematic behavior and by perceptions of dangerousness. The study empirically demonstrates countervailing processes in police decision-making—recognition of the causes for troublesome behavior and the need for mental health treatment on one hand, yet concern for community safety and enforcing the law on the other. The findings highlight the need for expanded police education and veteran-specific intervention options that facilitate recovery and reduce the likelihood of crisis situations.

Authors

• Fred E. Markowitz, Northern Illinois University

• Amy Watson, University of Illinois-Chicago