NCJ Number
47375
Journal
Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977-78) Pages: 632-643
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
TO CHARACTERIZE THE VICTIMS OF SPOUSE ABUSE AND TO EXAMINE THE NATURE OF SPOUSE ABUSE ASSAULTS, DATA OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY (NCS), A SURVEY OF A STRATIFIED NATIONAL SAMPLE, WERE ASSESSED
Abstract
THE NCS INVOLVES A SAMPLE OF 72,000 SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS YIELDING APPROXIMATELY 60,000 ACTUAL INTERVIEWS. DATA ARE OBTAINED ON A ROTATIONAL BASIS EVERY 6 MONTHS; THOSE COLLECTED FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1973 THROUGH 1975 WERE USED IN THE STUDY. DATA PERTAIN TO BOTH REPORTED AND NONREPORTED VICTIMIZATIONS AND CONTAIN HOUSEHOLD, PERSON, AND INCIDENT INFORMATION. THE STUDY DEFINED SPOUSE ABUSE AS ASSAULT WITHOUT THEFT IN WHICH THE OFFENDER WAS THE VICTIM'S SPOUSE OR EX-SPOUSE. WHILE MEN HAVE A FAR GREATER RISK OF BEING ASSAULTED IN GENERAL THAN DO WOMEN, THEY HAVE ALMOST NO RISK OF BEING ASSAULTED BY THEIR WIVES. IN CONTRAST, ALMOST 15 PERCENT OF ALL ASSAULTS AGAINST WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES ARE PERPETRATED BY THEIR HUSBANDS OR EX-HUSBAND. HUSBANDS OR EX-HUSBANDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 25 PERCENT OF ALL ASSAULTS OF EVER-MARRIED WOMEN, FOR 15.6 PERCENT OF ASSAULTS ON MARRIED WOMEN, FOR 54.6 PERCENT ON SEPARATED WOMEN, AND FOR 27.9 PERCENT OF ASSAULTS ON DIVORCED WOMEN. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN RATES OF ASSAULT OR RATES OF SPOUSE ABUSE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE EVER-MARRIED WOMEN. SPOUSE ABUSE APPEARS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH LESS THAN $3,000 ANNUAL INCOME. WHILE RATES OF SPOUSE ABUSE WERE LOWER IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH $3,000 TO $7,499 THAN IN THOSE WITH UNDER $3,000, THE INCIDENCE OF ASSAULT IN THESE HOUSEHOLDS WAS HIGHER THAN IN ALL HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES OVER $7,500 COMBINED. ON THE AVERAGE, SPOUSE ABUSE VICTIMS EXPERIENCED 2.4 ASSAULTS. SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF OF THE FEMALE SPOUSE ABUSE VICTIMS WERE EMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF AT LEAST ONE ABUSE INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH 87 PERCENT OF THESE VICTIMS HAD BEEN EMPLOYED AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES. IN GENERAL, SPOUSE ABUSE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE HOME OF THE VICTIM AND AT NIGHT. IN MOST CASES THE OFFENDER HAD A RIGHT TO BE IN THE HOME. SPOUSE ABUSE IS MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER ASSAULTS TO INVOLVE ACTUAL ATTACK RATHER THAN JUST THREAT AND TO RESULT IN INJURY REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND/OR LOSS OF WORK TIME. SPOUSE ABUSE VICTIMS RESISTED THEIR ASSAILANTS TO ABOUT THE SAME DEGREE AS ASSAULT VICTIMS OF OTHER TYPES. MORE THAN HALF OF THE SPOUSE ABUSE VICTIMIZATIONS HAD BEEN REPORTED. NONREPORTERS CITED THEIR BELIEF THAT THE ABUSE WAS PERSONAL MATTER AS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR FAILURE TO REPORT. DESPITE METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE RELIABILITY OF THE NCS SELF-REPORT DATA, FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT SPOUSE ABUSE IS A COMPONENT OF VIOLENT CRIME IN THE U.S. WHICH SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. TABULAR SURVEY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)