The influence of gender and mental state on police decisions in domestic assault cases

Research findings on gender biases in police decision making are mixed and have not directly examined how assailants' gender affects officers' interpretation of situational cues or their decisions. Using hypothetical scripts and experimental manipulation, this study examined how disputants' gender and mental state affected 130 officers' inferences about dangerousness, responsibility, credibility, and control and, ultimately, their decisions to arrest or refer for involuntary civil commitment in domestic assault cases. Officers inferred that male victims of domestic assault had more control over their actions and were more responsible than female victims. Mentally ill assailants were viewed as more dangerous and less in control of their actions than normal assailants. Gender influenced the arrest decision through officers' assessments of disputants' credibility and responsibility. Female mentally ill assailants were more likely than males to be referred for involuntary civil commitment The findings suggest that both gender and mental state affect officers' inferences and decisions in domestic assault cases.