Gender differentiation: How infliction of injury, weapon use, intoxicating substances, and violence rationale affects an officer's decision to arrest the male, female or both involved parties

Domestic violence is a major societal issue. Factors such as gender, race, weapon use, infliction of injuries, and substance increase domestic violence situations, and impact arrest decisions. The purpose of this research study was to examine how gender, weapon use, injuries, and substance use affected an officer's choice to arrest either the male, female, or both parties involved. The research questions sought to find out who is more likely to be arrested in domestic violence incidents, and what factors affect an officer's decision to arrest. Three thousand and seventy-eight domestic violence incidents were examined across four states. Weapons, injuries, and substance use impacted an officer's decision to arrest. The impact often varied depending on the gender of victim and offender. Future research should focus on how gender impacts an officer's decision to arrest either one party or both parties when factors such as weapons, injuries, and substance use are determinants of arrest.