NCJ Number
222094
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 18 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2003 Pages: 695-716
Date Published
July 2003
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined the experience and perceptions that domestic violence victims reported, and how police responses affected the likelihood of reoccurring violence in Dade County, FL.
Abstract
Results show that personal and legal power are subjectively experienced perceptions that can be effective resources for domestic violence victims. Legal actors can form partnerships with victims by recognizing that each person is unique and faces cultural, economic, family, and emotional circumstances that can increase or decrease the probability of reoccurring violence. Partnerships and alliances empower victims. They are, however precluded by police or court actions that fail to consider the unique victim's characteristics and needs. Personal and legal power can be used to influence and control the suspect's behaviors, as they simultaneously assure the victim's perceptions of safety. Police arrests, safe shelters, and prosecution programs have been the preferred solutions for domestic rounds from the United States since the mid-1970s. However, many African-American women remain unwilling to turn to safe shelters because they are not culturally friendly. Victims refuse to call the police to avoid turning their partners over to the criminal justice system that they perceive discriminates against African-Americans. Typical domestic violence programs that are based on a “one size fits all model” limits prevention and intervention and should be replaced by programs that are based on African-American popular culture. The study concludes with some implications for domestic violence research, programs, and perspectives. The victims and partners were the primary research participants in an arrest experiment. The occurrence of violence following suspect arrest, perceptions of personal and legal power, victim satisfaction with the police, and victim perception of safety following legal intervention were examined.