Abstract
This paper uses a life-course perspective to examine the extent to which domestic violence is part of a criminal career. Offenders who commit domestic violence as their first criminal act are compared to offenders for whom domestic violence is merely a continuation of a criminal career and for whom the domestic violence relationship provides an opportunity for the commission of still another type of offense. In addition, there is an examination of patterns in offending and reoffending for males and females.
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This project was supported by Grant No. 2001-WT-BX-0501 awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Notes
1. NIBRS codes 13A (aggravated assault), 13B (simple assault), and 13C (intimidation).
2. A total of 172 (8.7%) of the 1,988 cases in this study resulted in the arrest of both parties. For a more detailed discussion of the selection of the states, jurisdictions, and cases see CitationHirschel et al. (2007).