Domestic Violence and Mandatory Prosecution: The Role of Young Children in Survivor Satisfaction with Police during an Openly Prosecuted Case

Background: Research examining the impact of domestic violence (DV) on young children (YC) predominantly focuses on survivor-child relationships and child mental health; conversely, research on criminal-legal intervention and DV largely examines policies that mandate arrest and prosecution. Each area of study omits critical context the other contains. YC living with DV see frequent contact with the criminal-legal system, often witnessing one family member arrested for harming another. This is compounded by mandatory arrest and prosecution policies for DV that exacerbate trauma for adult survivors denied choice in whether an abusive party is arrested or prosecuted. Our study fills this gap by examining the role YC play in survivor satisfaction with police, as police are responsible for enforcing mandatory arrest policies that ultimately lead to (mandated) prosecution. Survivor satisfaction with police is examined in cities in four states with mandatory (“no-drop”) prosecution policies for active DV cases, wherein the abusive party is being prosecuted.

Methods: Our study examined the role YC play in survivor satisfaction (n=161) with police in states with mandatory (“no-drop”) prosecution policies for active DV cases. Secondary data analysis was conducted utilizing a 2006 study that evaluated the impact of no-drop policies on DV criminal cases in cities in four no-drop states (San Diego, California; Omaha, Nebraska; Klamath Falls, Oregon; Everett, Washington). Multivariable analyses were conducted via multinomial logistic regression controlling for survivor sex, race/ethnicity, age, education level, income, and survivor relationship to the abusive party.

Results: Compared to survivors without YC, survivors with two or more YC were five times more likely to report dissatisfaction with police (RRR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.35, 16.2). Additionally, male survivors were six times more likely to report dissatisfaction with police (RRR: 6.0, 95% CI: 1.6, 22.4) compared to female survivors, and BIPOC survivors were 70% more likely to report dissatisfaction with police (RRR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.9) compared to white survivors. Finally, results indicated incremental increases in dissatisfaction with police associated with increases in education level for those with post-secondary education. Compared to survivors with less than grade 12 education, survivors with trade school or some college education were five times more likely to report dissatisfaction with police (RRR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.3, 19.8).Comparatively, survivors with college-level or additional graduate-level education were ten times more likely to report dissatisfaction with police as compared to survivors whose education level was below grade 12 (RRR: 10.0; 95% CI: 2.0, 49.8).

Conclusion: This study replicates and extends the literature examining factors that influence level of satisfaction with the police in DV cases, and offers novel insight into the relationship between survivors’ satisfaction with police handling of their case and the presence of children. These findings also have important implications for policy: policymakers must address root causes of disparities in survivor satisfaction and work towards creating more equitable and effective DV policies. Ultimately, this study underscores the need for comprehensive research and policy analysis across disciplines that considers the complex realities of DV and its impact on survivors and their families.