Research Article

Victims arrested for domestic violence: unintended consequences of arrest policies

  1. Peter S. Hovmand1,
  2. David N. Ford2,
  3. Ingrid Flom1,
  4. Stavroula Kyriakakis1

Article first published online: 6 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1002/sdr.418

Issue

System Dynamics Review

System Dynamics Review

Volume 25, Issue 3, pages 161–181, July/September 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hovmand, P. S., Ford, D. N., Flom, I. and Kyriakakis, S. (2009), Victims arrested for domestic violence: unintended consequences of arrest policies. System Dynamics Review, 25: 161–181. doi: 10.1002/sdr.418

Author Information

  1. 1

    George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St Louis, Campus box 1196, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130, USA

  2. 2

    Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 SEP 2009
  2. Article first published online: 6 AUG 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted:
  4. Manuscript Received:

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Abstract

Domestic violence is a major social problem. In the United States, the failure of communities and police departments to intervene resulted in a push to implement pro- and mandatory arrest policies for domestic violence. These policies have led to an unexpected increase in the number of victim arrests. Competing explanations have been offered. This paper describes the development of a system dynamics model of victim arrests. Results of model structure analysis suggest that these policies may have created or strengthened a crossover mechanism that shifts the risk of arrests in domestic violence cases from aggressors to victims. Model analysis also demonstrates how the changing role of cooperation between advocates and police can help explain the trends in victim arrests. Implications for research and policy are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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