title: Family violence and police utilization.
abstract: This study examines the utilization of police service for domestic incidents. Contrary to the popular image of serious violence perpetrated upon a spouse, the data show that most calls involve less serious incidents that are almost as likely to involve cohabitants as married couples. This finding assumes significance because of the small proportion of the cohabiting population to the married population. Other types of relationships that generate calls to the police include, although to a lesser extent, parent-child, boyfriend-girlfriend, and siblings. Explanation for these findings focuses on relationship issues and provides implications for service utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hirschel
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pesackis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D012931:Social Environment; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data