Caught in the net of zero-tolerance, the effect of the criminal justice response to partner violence

• Main Author: Wood, Linda Patricia
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/2081

The impetus for the present study stems from the competing interpretations that have emerged over the effect of the criminal justice response to partner violence in the form of a 'zero-tolerance' policy implemented by the Winnipeg Police Service in July of 1993. Using data collected from Police Incident Reports on cases of women and men charged with criminal acts of violence over a five year period (1991 to 1995), three questions are addressed: Are there differences between partner and non-partner violence cases in terms of their processing by the criminal justice system? Are there differences in the processing and sentencing of partner violence cases before and after the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy? Are there differences in the processing and sentencing of women and men charged with partner violence? Together, the findings raise questions about the effectiveness of the zero-tolerance policy in responding to partner violence and suggest some support for the position that zero-tolerance has had a "net widening" effect. (Abstract sho tened by UMI.)