Case Characteristics and Odds of Arrest Over Time in Police Cases of Child-Parent Violence

Child-parent violence is an often-neglected form of domestic violence despite being subject to certain domestic violence policies such as mandatory arrests. To address gaps in this area, this study replicated the methods of Strom et al. using more recent NIBRS data. Contrasting previous findings, this study found that mandatory arrest policies were not statistically associated with odds of arrest compared to discretionary policies, whereas pro-arrest policies were linked to increased odds of arrest. These findings indicate differential policy impact, potentially in relation to the policy coverage and specificity. Observed incident characteristic consistencies and discrepancies between studies are discussed. Formal policy and practitioner response guidelines are needed in this area to address the particular circumstances and nuances of child-parent violence.