Violence Against Women: Synthesis of Research for Criminal Justice Policymakers

• NCJ Number: 199579
• Author(s): Ronet Bachman
• Date Published: December 2000
• Length: 34 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Research Report
• Grant Number(s): 98-WT-VX-K011
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This federally funded report attempts to synthesize the empirical research on violence against women, specifically for policymakers and program administrators to assist in the response to violence against women.

Abstract

It is of the utmost importance for policymakers to take the initiative to stay informed about the most recent research findings on the effectiveness of enacted policy on violence against women which directly impacts women’s lives. This report funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, attempts to synthesize the scientific research on violence against women for policymakers and program administrators at the Federal, State, and local levels who are faced with challenging decisions on how society should respond. The report begins by educating policymakers about the methodological foundations on which large estimates of violence against women are based. It is essential for policymakers to understand the methodological intricacies that produce these estimates. The section that follows reviews particular policy initiatives related to violence against women, including: arrests for intimate partner violence, arrest policies, civil protection orders, rape reform legislation, and coordinated community responses and special units. The report concludes with an outline of a Model State Code on Domestic and Family Violence as drafted by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in 1991. The model code compels law enforcement officers responding to family violence “to protect the victim and prevent further violence” through the use of several methods. Mandatory arrest is recommended for the “primary aggressor” in a felony or misdemeanor act of family violence. The model is viewed as comprehensive and illustrates how States can help protect victims. However, there is no empirical research to determine the effectiveness of the statute. Reference