Madison Co. increases domestic violence arrests

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - Mandatory training and a policy change have driven up domestic violence arrests in a central Indiana county.

The Herald Bulletin reported Sunday  that law enforcement agencies in Madison County had an arrest rate of 73 percent through the end of September, compared to 29 percent less than 10 years ago and a statewide average of about 50 percent.

Police in the county northeast of Indianapolis received 568 domestic violence related calls through September compared to 675 calls during all of 2011.

Victim's advocate Kandi Floyd of the anti-domestic violence agency Alternatives Inc. credits the county's mandatory training for officers and a policy in which officers must arrest the aggressor if they have probable cause to believe battery has occurred, even if the victim is reluctant or unwilling to cooperate.