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Understanding Gender-Specific Intimate Partner Homicide: A Theoretical and Domestic Service-Oriented Approach

NCJ Number
232467
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2010 Pages: 951-958
Author(s)
Amy Reckdenwald; Karen F. Parker
Date Published
September 2010
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The current study investigates both exposure reduction and backlash arguments, in addition to economic deprivation and a number of structural factors relevant to homicide rates.
Abstract
Research on intimate partner homicide has increased in recent years, partially due to growing efforts to disaggregate homicides into meaningful categories but also because of a growing interest in policy responses toward domestic violence. Much of this research tends to focus on two perspectivesexposure reduction and the backlash/retaliation hypotheseswhen explaining the link between intimate partner homicide and domestic violence resources. Support has been found for both approaches even though they offer contradictory predictions. This frustrating finding is further complicated by methodological issues, such as the inability to address the rare nature of these events, offer a wide range of domestic violence services and resources and control for structural characteristics of urban areas where violence is found. This issue is addressed in the current study by offering a systematic examination of male- and female-victim intimate partner homicide in 2000. Results suggest that while these perspectives are relevant to intimate partner homicides, there are statistically significant differences across the gender-specific models once the corrected statistical test for coefficient equality is estimated. Tables, appendix, notes, and references (Published Abstract)