Victim Retraction From Police Investigations of Intimate Partner Violence

Objective: Previous research has reported inconclusive results pertaining to the predictors for victim retraction and participation in police investigations of intimate partner violence (IPV). The aim of this study was therefore to examine characteristics and consequences associated with victim retraction and participation in police investigations of IPV. Additionally, we also examined characteristics and consequences in relation to victim retraction and participation in police risk management strategies. Method: We analyzed a sample of 668 cases of male-to-female IPV reported to Swedish police, where characteristics were retrieved mainly from risk assessments of IPV re-victimization conducted by the police for all cases. Additionally, follow-up information of prosecutions, convictions, and rates of IPV re-victimization were examined for each case. Results: The main results show a higher proportion of vulnerability factors present in cases where women retracted than in cases where they participated. In contrast, there were more risk factors present in cases where victims participated, and such participation was more likely to result in a perpetrator's prosecution and conviction. There was no significant association between IPV re-victimization and victim retraction or participation. Conclusion: Victim participation in the police investigation and the risk management increased the likelihood of conviction, illustrating the importance of criminal justice professionals supporting, encouraging, and motivating women who have experienced IPV to participate in the criminal justice process.