The Influence of Domestic Violence in Homicide Cases

Abstract

Domestic violence may be less representative of a unique form of violent behavior and more indicative of an overall tendency toward violence. This article explores this issue with two years of police data from a Mid-South city. Findings revealed that domestic violence histories were more likely in any type of homicide case, and that there were both similarities and differences in predicting general and domestic violence homicide cases. Further implications of these findings within the context of law enforcement strategies and responses to domestic violence are discussed.