A National Examination of the Role of Gender in Determining Police Clearance in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence

• In Event: Police Officers, Schools, and Domestic Violence

Abstract

Legislative and policy reform in recent decades has significantly changed how society responds to intimate partner violence to better protect women and children experiencing such violence. It is argued, however, that one unintended consequences of these changes has been an increase in the number of women accused of intimate partner violence. While research examining gender disparities in arrests for intimate partner violence has been extensive in the US, little systematic research has examined this question in the Canadian context. Using data from the 2011 Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, we examine national and provincial variations in police charging for intimate partner violence incidents by gender of the accused. Preliminary results show that the odds police recommend that charges be laid varies by gender of the accused, and these differences remain after controlling for other incident characteristics. However, while gender differences in police charging practices persist, they vary considerably across provinces. Implications for policy and future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Tina Hotton, University of Guelph

• Myrna Dawson, University of Guelph