State laws establishing a
mandatory arrest policy include: Alaska Stat. § 18.65.530; Ariz. Rev. Stat.
Ann. § 13-3601 (B); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-6-803.6; Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §
46b-38b (a); D.C. Code Ann. § 16-1031; Iowa Code Ann. §§ 236.12 (2), Kan.
Stat. Ann. § 22-2307 (b)(1); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 46-2140 (1) (aggravated or
second degree battery), (2) (danger to victim exists where asault or simple
battery occured); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit 19-A § 4012 (5); Miss. Code Ann. §
99-3-7 (3); Nev. Rev. Stat. § 171.137; N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:25-21; N.Y. Crim.
Proc. Law § 140.10 (4)(c); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2935.032 (A)(1)(a); Or. Rev.
Stat. § 133.055 (2)(a); R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-29-3; S.C. Code Ann. § 16-25-70;
S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 23A-3-21; Utah Code Ann. § 77-36-2.2; Va. Code
Ann. § 19.2-81.3; Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 10.31.100 (2); Wis. Stat. Ann. §
968.075(3). Mo. Rev. Stat. § 455.085.1 requires arrest for a second domestic
violence incident within 12 hours. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-6-803.6 is somewhat
unique in explicitly stating that an officer is not required by this statute to
make an arrest where there is no probable cause.
A considerable literature on mandatory arrests exists. See, e.g., Joan
Zorza, Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence, 10 Crim. Just. (Fall 1995
at 2); Pamela Blass Bracher, Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence: The City
of Cincinnati’s Simple Solution to a Complex Problem, 65 U. Cinn. L. Rev.
155 (1996); Marion Waless, Mandatory Arrest: A Step Toward Eradicating
Domestic Violence, But Is It Enough? 1996 U. Ill. L. Rev. 533 (1996); Kevin
Walsh, The Mandatory Arrest Law: Police Reaction, 16 Pace L. Rev. 97
(1995).
See also note 86 infra for a discussion of "primary aggressor
analysis limits on arrests where both parties may be subject to mandatory
arrest.