Citation

Ekström V, Lindström P. Int. Rev. Victimology 2016; 22(3): 257-267.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, World Society of Victimology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0269758016651946

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable and punish them for their offences has been an important goal in the political rhetoric concerning domestic violence in Sweden. Through new legislation, media campaigns and collaboration projects between the police and the social services, women who have been victims of domestic violence have been urged to report to the police and remain in the criminal investigation process. The purpose of this study is to examine whether social support given at police stations will result in more prosecutions. The study is based on data collected from police investigations and analysed by a multivariate regression method. The results show that strong evidence for prosecution, such as the presence of witnesses and documented injuries, and also the offender's position on the allegations and whether or not the woman hesitates to participate in the criminal investigation, are the most important factors for a decision to prosecute. Support to the victim from the social services also increases the probability of prosecution, but the impact is smaller and uncertain. It is concluded that this form of support should not be based on the requirement that the woman has made a police report, but rather be given to all victims of domestic violence.

Language: en