Summary
"The present study examined police officers' (n = 160) interpretations of reasonableness of fear and severity of risk in hypothetical cases of criminal harassment. Variables manipulated within vignettes included gender, fear, duration, prior relationship, following/watching, threatening conduct, communication, and criminal and psychological history. Regression models indicated that predictors of ratings of reasonableness included following/watching, gender of both accused and complainant, and history of violence. Predictors of ratings of severity included following/watching, threatening conduct, and history of violence. The most frequent self-reported factor officers deemed influential in ratings of reasonableness and severity was the absence of threats. Implications for theory and practice are discussed."--Abstract.