This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by STEPHENS, B. J. Articles by SINDEN, P. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by STEPHENS, B. J. Articles by SINDEN, P. G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Victims' Voices

Domestic Assault Victims' Perceptions of Police Demeanor

State University of New York College at Fredonia

PETER G. SINDEN

State University of New York College at Fredonia

The perspectives and experiences of victims have been underrepresented in the ongoing debate about mandatory arrest laws for domestic assault. This article presents findings relevant to this policy debate. The authors interviewed 25 victims whose assailants had been arrested under the provisions of the recently passed New York Family Protection and Domestic Violence Intervention Act. The authors' focus was on the respondents' experiences with the new law and specifically their perceptions of police demeanor toward them and their assailants. A majority of the participants reported multiple encounters with law enforcement prior to the arrest event. The authors identified four categories of police demeanor—minimizing the situation, disbelieving the victim, we don't care, and macho cop—that were crucial to victims' perceptions of how they were treated by officers. The importance of police demeanor in establishing the trust of victims is discussed and related to policy issues.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 15, No. 5, 534-547 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/088626000015005006


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. K. Payne and R. R. Gainey Attitudes About the Police and Neighborhood Safety in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: The Influence of Criminal Victimization and Perceptions of a Drug Problem Criminal Justice Review, June 1, 2007; 32(2): 142 - 155. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Russell and L. Light Police and Victim Perspectives on Empowerment of Domestic Violence Victims Police Quarterly, December 1, 2006; 9(4): 375 - 396. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. R. Gillis, S. L. Diamond, P. Jebely, V. Orekhovsky, E. M. Ostovich, K. MacIsaac, S. Sagrati, and D. Mandell Systemic Obstacles to Battered Women's Participation in the Judicial System: When Will the Status Quo Change? Violence Against Women, December 1, 2006; 12(12): 1150 - 1168. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Rajah, V. Frye, and M. Haviland "Aren't I a Victim?": Notes on Identity Challenges Relating to Police Action in a Mandatory Arrest Jurisdiction Violence Against Women, October 1, 2006; 12(10): 897 - 916. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T K Logan, L. Shannon, and R. Walker Police Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Offenders Journal of Interpersonal Violence J Interpers Violence, October 1, 2006; 21(10): 1365 - 1374. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Brown, R. M. Linnemeyer, W. L. Dougherty, J. C. Coulson, H. B. Trangsrud, and I. S. Farnsworth Battered Women's Process of Leaving: Implications for Career Counseling Journal of Career Assessment, November 1, 2005; 13(4): 452 - 475. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. P. Worden and B. E. Carlson Attitudes and Beliefs About Domestic Violence: Results of a Public Opinion Survey: II. Beliefs About Causes J Interpers Violence, October 1, 2005; 20(10): 1219 - 1243. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Fugate, L. Landis, K. Riordan, S. Naureckas, and B. Engel Barriers to Domestic Violence Help Seeking: Implications for Intervention Violence Against Women, March 1, 2005; 11(3): 290 - 310. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Apsler, M. R. Cummins, and S. Carl Perceptions of the Police by Female Victims of Domestic Partner Violence Violence Against Women, November 1, 2003; 9(11): 1318 - 1335. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. S.-K. Tang Factors Influencing Responsibility Attribution to Wife Abuse: A Study of Chinese Police Officers Criminal Justice and Behavior, October 1, 2003; 30(5): 584 - 601. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Miller An Arresting Experiment: Domestic Violence Victim Experiences and Perceptions J Interpers Violence, July 1, 2003; 18(7): 695 - 716. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Barata and C. Y. Senn When Two Fields Collide: An Examination of the Assumptions of Social Science Research and Law Within the Domain of Domestic Violence Trauma Violence Abuse, January 1, 2003; 4(1): 3 - 21. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. W. BARNETT Why Battered Women Do Not Leave, Part 1: External Inhibiting Factors Within Society Trauma Violence Abuse, October 1, 2000; 1(4): 343 - 372. [Abstract] [PDF]