NCJ Number
46989
Date Published
1978
Length
81 pages
Annotation
TABULAR DATA DERIVED BY QUESTIONNAIRE IS PRESENTED ON THE EXTENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ABUSED SPOUSES IN WISCONSIN.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO SELECTED POLICE CHIEFS, ALL SHERIFFS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARDS, AND TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES TO ABUSED SPOUSES. COLLECTED DATA INCLUDED: (1) INFORMATION ON WHETHER SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SURVEYED TO ABUSED SPOUSES; (2) THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS THAT EACH ORGANIZATION HAD WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; (3) HOW THESE PERSONS WERE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE ORGANIZATION; (4) THE TYPE OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE VICTIM; (5) SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW SERVICES AND NEW LEGISLATION; AND (6) IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. COPIES OF EACH QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED IN AN APPENDIX. COUNTIES WERE DEMARCATED BY POPULATION FOR USE IN ANALYZING THE RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE. DATA ARE PROVIDED ON THOSE MUNICIPALITIES AND GROUPS WHICH RESPONDED OR DID NOT RESPOND, A SERIES OF TABLES SUMMARIZING THE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE. BOTH THE POLICE CHIEFS AND SHERIFFS WERE QUESTIONED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTACTS; THEIR RESPONSES INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING DATA: THE NUMBER OF PERSONS CONTACTING THEM WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFFICER BEING SENT TO THE SCENE, THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS RESULTING IN AN INDIVIDUAL BEING TRANSPORTED TO A PHYSICIAN OR HOSPITAL, THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS INVOLVING THE USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL BY ONE OR BOTH OF THE PARTIES, THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS INVOLVING PARTIES WITH WHOM THE DEPARTMENT HAD PREVIOUS CONTACT, THE TIME OF DAY OF THE CONTACTS, AGE OF VICTIMS, PERCENT OF TIME SPENT DEALING WITH THESE CASES, AND ARRESTS MADE. THE SHERIFFS AND POLICE CHIEFS WERE ALSO ASKED ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST, TRAINING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS, AND WRITTEN POLICIES OR GUIDELINES. THIRTEEN VICTIM SERVICES ARE LISTED INCLUDING SHELTER CARE, COUNSELING, AND TELEPHONE HOTLINES. TABLES ARE ALSO PRESENTED ON FINANCIAL AND INKIND RESOURSES OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN 1977. THE METHOD OF SELECTING CHIEFS OF POLICE TO RECEIVE QUESTIONNAIRES IS DESCRIBED IN AN APPENDIX. (DJM)