This final research report summarizes the findings from a comprehensive study on fatal and non-fatal intimate partner (IPV) and family violence (FV) against older women. The study, which examines age-related patterns and police response, draws on three robust national datasets—the Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and the National Violent Death Reporting System. It meticulously describes victimization rates and characteristics, scrutinizes reporting and arrest patterns, and pinpoints areas for future research and policy development. The report underscores the pioneering nature of the study, presenting descriptive statistics and contingency tables, and underscores key findings such as the disproportionately higher rates of violence experienced by older Black women and the influence of victim age and relationship type on arrest outcomes.
Key findings presented in this report indicate significant variation in victimization rates and characteristics of IPV and FV against older women across different age groups and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Older Black women consistently experience higher rates of both fatal and non-fatal IPV and FV compared to older white women. The study highlights that while spousal relationships account for a significant portion of fatal and non-fatal IPV, dating relationships are also a considerable factor, especially for younger older women. For FV, mothers and grandmothers are frequently victims, with perpetrators often being adult sons.
Regarding police response, reporting rates for IPV among older women hover around 40-50%, while FV reporting is slightly higher. The most common reason for reporting is to "stop the incident," while reasons for not reporting often involve not wanting to get the offender in trouble or fear of retribution. Police generally arrive at the scene when called and primarily take reports and ask questions.
Arrest patterns reveal important nuances: fatal FV has the highest arrest rate, while fatal IPV arrests are comparable to non-intimate/family violence. Another finding is the consistent and dramatic decline in arrest percentages for fatal IPV cases as women age, often due to the death of the offender (primarily murder-suicides involving spouses). For non-fatal IPV and FV, a substantial percentage of cases do not result in arrest or exceptional clearance, and for older victims, prosecutors more frequently decline prosecution.
The research emphasizes the need to move beyond a monolithic view of "older women" and consider age subgroups, victim-offender relationships, and incident characteristics to inform tailored interventions and policies. It also identifies critical areas for future research, including understanding why a significant number of serious cases do not result in arrest, exploring reasons for the high number of prosecutorial declinations, and ensuring adequate representation of older women in victimization surveys.
(Author abstract provided.)