The Role of Sex on Officer Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence: An Empirical Analysis of Mechanisms of Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is serious social concern and is often perpetrated by police officers. Research suggests that 20–40% of police families experience IPV. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of an officer’s sex plays in IPV perpetration using measures that can be utilized for Social Learning Theory, General Strain Theory, or Social Bond Theory. The Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland 1997–1999 data were utilized in the study. This study utilized three different logistic regression models to examine IPV perpetration among all officers, male officers only, and female officers only. By doing this, the mechanisms for which IPV perpetration occurs among male and female officers are further understood. The results of the study suggest the mechanisms for which officers perpetrate IPV differ for male and female officers.

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Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson is a PhD candidate in the Sociology Department at the University of Akron. He earned his M.A. in Sociology at the University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on intimate partner violence, substance usage, gender, and culture with a focus on testing sociological and criminological theories.