The Impact of Unconditional Police Reporting on Domestic Violence
Over the last years, many countries have adopted policies aimed at reducing violence against women. Most of the enacted measures prioritize criminal justice as a response to intimate partner violence and require an initial report of domestic abuse to the police. This study assesses how lowering barriers for women to access public services affects domestic violence. Exploiting the temporal and geographic variation in the adoption of non-mandatory police reporting laws, I find that allowing battered women to receive protection and assistance without the need to face the criminal justice system when reporting the abuse reduces intimate partner homicides. I show that facilitating the dissolution of abusive relations and reducing domestic violence in intact couples are the main underlying channels.
Working paper coming soon
Over the last years, many countries have adopted policies aimed at reducing violence against women. Most of the enacted measures prioritize criminal justice as a response to intimate partner violence and require an initial report of domestic abuse to the police. This study assesses how lowering barriers for women to access public services affects domestic violence. Exploiting the temporal and geographic variation in the adoption of non-mandatory police reporting laws, I find that allowing battered women to receive protection and assistance without the need to face the criminal justice system when reporting the abuse reduces intimate partner homicides. I show that facilitating the dissolution of abusive relations and reducing domestic violence in intact couples are the main underlying channels.
Working paper coming soon