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When an Arrest Is Not an Arrest: Exceptionally Clearing Cases of Intimate Partner Violence

NCJ Number
242846
Journal
Police Quarterly Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2012 Pages: 358-385
Author(s)
David Hirschel; Donald Faggiani
Date Published
December 2012
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study examined the extent to which, and circumstances under which, police exceptionally clear cases.
Abstract
The authors examine a largely unexamined issue: the extent to which, and circumstances under which, police exceptionally clear cases. This is a particularly salient issue in intimate partner violence cases where this clearance category may be used to enable the circumvention of laws mandating arrest. Using NIBRS data to compare the police response to different victim-offender relationship categories, the authors examine the extent of, and circumstances under which, police officers exceptionally clear cases and whether evidence exists suggesting that the exceptional clearance category is used to circumvent mandatory arrest laws. They conclude by discussing the policy implications of the findings. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.