BERGEN COUNTY (NJ) - COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN - REPORT, V 1 - CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN RAPE - BATTERED WOMEN

• NCJ Number: 54581
• Author(s): E FASSBERG; P SEHAM; G SCHWIMMER; J BORDERS; G CALIA; P PERALTA; M BURDE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 156 pages
• Corporate Author: Bergen Cty Cmssn on the Status of Women
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PROBLEMS AND INCIDENCE OF RAPE AND SPOUSE ABUSE ARE EXPLORED IN THIS STUDY OF BERGEN COUNTY, N.J., PHYSICIANS, HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, AND POLICE OFFICERS.

Abstract

THIS STUDY ALSO PRESENTS DATA ON VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS AND DATA ON AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS. THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS REPORT DEALS WITH RAPE AND THE SECOND DEALS WITH BATTERED WOMEN. DATA WERE COLLECTED BY MEANS OF QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO ALL PHYSICIANS IN BERGEN COUNTY. OUT OF AN ORIGINAL SAMPLE OF 1,197, 245 PHYSICIANS REPLIED. IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTIONNAIRES, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH VARIOUS HOSPITAL AND POLICE PERSONNEL. IT WAS FOUND THAT FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER 1975 TO SEPTEMBER 1976 BERGEN COUNTY HAD A HIGHER RATE OF INCREASE IN RAPE AND ATROCIOUS ASSAULT THAN DID THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AS A WHOLE. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT 72 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 17 AND 40. ADDITIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RAPE VICTIMS ARE PROVIDED. DESCRIPTIONS OF EXISTING HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ARE PRESENTED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND A COMMUNITY VICTIM SUPPORT SYSTEM IS RECOMMENDED. TO PREVENT RAPE, A TOTAL SATURATION PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN THE INFORMATION MEDIA AND A COMPLEMENTARY SUPPORT SYSTEM, ARE PROPOSED. THE RECOMMENDED SUPPORT SYSTEM WOULD INCLUDE IMMEDIATE VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COUNSELING, AND MEDICAL AGENCIES. THE SAMPLE FOR THE STUDY OF BATTERED WOMEN WAS THE SAME AS FOR THE RAPE STUDY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DESCRIBE THE CAUSES OF WIFE BATTERING, TO PROVIDE DATA ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS, AND TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS. DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES AND DATA REGARDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED. THE FOLLOWING SIX TYPES OF SERVICES ARE RECOMMENDED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF WIFE BEATING: (1) EMERGENCY SERVICES, (2) ONGOING SERVICES, (3) INFORMATION PROGRAMS, (4) POLICE TRAINING, (5) INNOVATIVE USE OF PRETRIAL INTERVENTION, AND (6) LIAISON COMMITTEE OF RELEVANT AGENCIES. TABLES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)