Abuse Arrest Policies Push Gender Bias: Report

WASHINGTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Biased domestic violence arrest policies are violating the civil rights of innocent Americans and allowing abusers to go free, according to a report released today. The report, "Predominant Aggressor Policies: Leaving the Abuser Unaccountable?" charges such policies violate 14th Amendment equal protection guarantees and worsen the cycle of violence.

The analysis is published by SAVE – Stop Abusive and Violent Environments, and is available online: http://www.saveservices.org/downloads/Predominant-Aggressor-Policies

The report analyzes domestic violence policies in 23 states designed to guide law enforcement personnel in arrest decisions. The document calls on states with predominant aggressor laws to repeal such policies.

The predominant aggressor report follows SAVE's recent release of "Assaulting our Rights: How Domestic Violence Laws Curtail Our Fundamental Freedoms," which concludes abuse laws result in the curtailment of civil liberties of over 2 million Americans each year: http://www.saveservices.org/downloads/SAVE-Assault-Civil-Rights

Research shows men and women are equally likely to instigate acts of partner aggression: http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm . But in Roanoke, Va., police officers are instructed to assess the "Height/weight of parties," a criterion that openly biases the officer to arrest the male.

In Maine, law enforcement personnel are expected to assess the "Power and control dynamics." Law enforcement expert Richard Davis of Plymouth College, Mass. charges these criteria represent "more a polemic ideological rant than a domestic violence intervention program."

In several states, police are told to evaluate "Risk or potential of future injury." But experts question the scientific basis of such recommendations.

"Predominant aggressor laws pressure police officers to arrest the man regardless of who called the police or what person instigated the abuse," according to SAVE spokesman Carl Starling. "Females that provoke violent acts are not held accountable for their abusive behavior, while innocent men end up with an arrest record for life."

Last September, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on charges of domestic violence, following an accusation by an inebriated woman. Lacking any evidence of harm, the D.A. dropped the charges. Columnist Dean Tong later wrote, "Shawne Merriman was falsely accused of domestic abuse charges, but may always carry a scarlet letter emblazoned upon his name."

SAVE is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness of our nation's approach to the problem of domestic violence through education, training, and awareness programs.

SOURCE Stop Abusive and Violent Environments