INTRODUCTION 

        This report provides statistical information for intimate domestic violence incidents that occurred in Springdale, Arkansas during the year 2006.  One of the primary purposes of this report is to educate the public about the problem of domestic violence, and to emphasize that domestic violence is a crime against the people of the State of Arkansas.  Domestic violence is a problem throughout America, and October has been proclaimed as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
         For purposes of this report, the term “domestic” means a family or household member, as defined by Arkansas law.  In the 2005 Arkansas General Assembly, the definition of “family” or “household member” was expanded to include dating relationships.  “Dating relationship” is defined under the 2005 law as a romantic or intimate social relationship between two individuals that is determined by examining the following factors:
          i)                  the length of the relationship;
          ii)                the type of the relationship; and
         iii)             the frequency of interaction between the two individuals involved in the relationship.
       “Dating relationship” does not include a casual relationship or ordinary fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context.
         In this report, domestic relationships are broken down into two different type relationships, “intimate” and “non-intimate.”  The term “intimate” means the parties are spouses, ex-spouses, live together or have lived together in a sexual relationship, have had a child together, or are in a dating relationship, as defined in the previous paragraph.  The term “non-intimate” for purposes of this report means the parties are related family members or live or have lived together in the same household, but not in an intimate relationship.  The non-intimate relationships usually involve such family members as brothers, sisters, parents or children, or roommates who are not intimates.
        For purposes of this report, the term “violence” means the crimes of homicide, felony battery, misdemeanor battery, aggravated assault (felony), misdemeanor assault, or terroristic threatening, as such crimes are defined under Arkansas law.  The specific crimes mentioned in this report are set out in the glossary, contained at the end of this report.
        At one time, domestic violence, and in particular intimate domestic violence, was considered to be a private family matter.  However, states throughout America gradually realized this was an antiquated approach, and started changing their laws.  In 1991, the Arkansas General Assembly passed the Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act.  The law changed how law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities deal with domestic abuse.  Under the Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act, if a law enforcement officer responds to a report of domestic abuse, and has probable cause to believe an offender of domestic abuse has violated Arkansas criminal laws, then an arrest is the preferred action.  Prior to the change in the law, Arkansas law enforcement officers were not allowed to make a misdemeanor arrest in domestic abuse situations unless the offense occurred in their presence, and such situations were rare.  The Arkansas Domestic Abuse Act has had a positive impact on the fight against domestic violence.

Jeff C. Harper
City Attorney