What does dual aggressor analysis require officers to do?

What does dual aggressor analysis require officers to do?

• A. Evaluate each complaint separately to determine which is the DA
• B. Assume one party is the aggressor
• C. Arrest both parties
• D. Ignore injuries

Answer: (A)

In dual aggressor analysis, the key idea is to evaluate each party’s actions on its own terms to determine who may be the dual aggressor and whether self-defense applies. Officers gather and compare the claims, evidence, and injuries from both sides without presuming that one person is the aggressor from the start. By looking at each complaint separately, they can see if either party’s conduct meets the elements of an offense, if self-defense was reasonable, or if both parties share responsibility for the incident.

This approach matters because it avoids bias and mislabeling. If an officer just assumes one side is the aggressor, they may miss important details or misinterpret self-defense claims. It also guides the proper enforcement decision—whether to charge, cite, arrest one or both parties, or to release—based on a complete, fair assessment rather than a rushed judgment. Ignoring injuries or defaulting to arresting everyone would neglect crucial evidence and could lead to unjust outcomes.

So, the best practice is to assess each complaint separately to determine who, if anyone, qualifies as the dual aggressor.