Reporting Intimate Partner Violence at the Intersection of Race and Citizenship

Abstract

This study explores the impact of citizenship status and racial and ethnic identity of a victim on the likelihood of intimate partner violence (IPV) being reported to the police in the United States. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (2017–2023), the current study estimated multinomial logistic regression models to analyze both victim-reporting and third-party reporting patterns across different citizenship and racial and ethnic groups. Findings indicated that noncitizens of a racial/ethnic minority background were significantly more likely to report their victimization experiences compared to White, non-Hispanic U.S. citizens. Additionally, third-party reporting of victimization was less common for racial/ethnic minority noncitizens, while noncitizen White, non-Hispanic victims exhibited the lowest rates of victim reporting. Factors such as injury severity, weapon presence, income level, disability status, and help-seeking from victim service agencies were significant predictors of reporting behavior. The study also explored the reasons victims choose to report or not report their experiences, finding that concerns over privacy, fear of reprisal, and protecting the offender are key deterrents, whereas preventing future harm and seeking immediate assistance drive reporting decisions. Theoretical implications suggest that for minority noncitizens, formal help-seeking methods like police reporting may not only be more accessible than informal support networks but also perceived as the best or only viable pathway to safety. This underscores the importance of accessibility and culturally competent practices in law enforcement, as negative experiences with formal systems may close off the only perceived route to safety and justice for these survivors.