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作者

Amalia R. Miller;Carmit Segal;Melissa K. Spencer

来源

来源 JOURNAL OF URBAN ECONOMICS,Vol.131,P.

语言

英文

关键字

Domestic violence;COVID-19 pandemic;Crime reporting;Police data;I18;J12;J16;K14;K42;R28

作者单位

University of Virginia, NBER and IZA, P.O. Box 400182, Charlottesville, VA 22903-4182, United States;University of Zurich, Switzerland;University of Richmond, United States;University of Virginia, NBER and IZA, P.O. Box 400182, Charlottesville, VA 22903-4182, United States;University of Zurich, Switzerland;University of Richmond, United States

摘要

We empirically investigate the impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on domestic violence using incident-level data on both domestic-related calls for service and crime reports of domestic violence assaults from the 18 major US police departments for which both types of records are available. Although we confirm prior reports of an increase in domestic calls for service at the start of the pandemic, we find that the increase preceded mandatory shutdowns, and there was an incremental decline following the government imposition of restrictions. We also find no evidence that domestic violence crimes increased. Rather, police reports of domestic violence assaults declined significantly during the initial shutdown period. There was no significant change in intimate partner homicides during shutdown months and victimization survey reports of intimate partner violence were lower. Our results fail to support claims that shutdowns increased domestic violence and suggest caution before drawing inference or basing policy solely on data from calls to police.