A decision on which party to arrest should not be based solely on:

A decision on which party to arrest should not be based solely on:

• A. The consent of the victim to any subsequent prosecution or relationship of person involved
• B. The relationship of the persons involved
• C. Absence of visible injuries or impairments
• D. Victim's history of prior complaints

Answer: (A)

Arrest decisions should be driven by probable cause and evidence of criminal conduct, not by what the victim wants to happen later. In domestic violence cases, officers follow policies that may require arrest when there is sufficient evidence of abuse, even if the victim does not want prosecution or asks the offender to maintain a relationship. The victim’s consent cannot be the controlling factor. The relationship between the parties provides context and risk but should not alone determine whether an arrest is made. Likewise, the absence of visible injuries does not prove there was no crime, since abuse can be non-physical or injuries may not be immediately evident. A victim’s history of prior complaints can inform risk and pattern, but it does not by itself decide whether current probable cause exists. So, the most correct principle is that an arrest decision should not be based solely on the victim’s consent or wishes.

Arrest decisions should be driven by probable cause and evidence of criminal conduct, not by what the victim wants to happen later. In domestic violence cases, officers follow policies that may require arrest when there is sufficient evidence of abuse, even if the victim does not want prosecution or asks the offender to maintain a relationship. The victim’s consent cannot be the controlling factor.

The relationship between the parties provides context and risk but should not alone determine whether an arrest is made. Likewise, the absence of visible injuries does not prove there was no crime, since abuse can be non-physical or injuries may not be immediately evident. A victim’s history of prior complaints can inform risk and pattern, but it does not by itself decide whether current probable cause exists.

So, the most correct principle is that an arrest decision should not be based solely on the victim’s consent or wishes.