Variables that predict verdicts in domestic violence cases

Literature on the prosecution of domestic violence cases tends to focus on prosecution strategies or policies, and prosecutorial discretion. There is a dearth of studies concerning factors that are associated with verdicts in domestic violence trials. This study of 140 domestic violence cases appear ing before rite Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in Chesterfield Count y, Virginia, examines the demographic and court process variables that are associated with particular verdicts in domestic violence offenses. A discri minant function analysis determined that five variables can predict verdict s: race of perpetrator; gender of perpetrator; relationship between victim and perpetrator; previous criminal history, and availability of Polaroid pi ctures of the crime for use as evidence. The typical guilty case was a Whit e male, married to or living with the victim, with a previous criminal hist ory, and whose case file included Polaroid pictures of the crime.