The Role and Impact of Primary Aggressor Laws and Policies

Abstract

The move to arrest, in particular mandatory arrest, has not come without criticism. Of particular concern has been the observed increase in the percentage of those arrested who are women. In this article, the authors examine the reasons for the enactment of primary aggressor laws and present an overview of those laws. They use a sample of intimate partner intimidation and assault cases reported to the police in calendar year 2000 in 25 jurisdictions in four states (Connecticut, Idaho, Tennessee, and Virginia) to examine the relationship between dual arrest rates and the existence of a primary aggressor statute.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence legislation
• domestic violence
• domestic violence laws
• primary aggressor
• police arrest