NCJ Number
53339
Date Published
1975
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THROUGH INTERVIEWS, THE EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS OF SPOUSES OF OFFENDERS IN PREVENTIVE CUSTODY WERE STUDIED IN THE NETHERLANDS.
Abstract
PREVIOUS REPORTS ON THE EFFECT OF PREVENTIVE CUSTODY ON OFFENDERS FREQUENTLY MENTIONED THE DIFFICULT POSITION OF THE SPOUSE AND FAMILY. THEREFORE, AFTER PERMISSION OF THE HUSBAND-OFFENDER WAS OBTAINED, A GROUP OF 120 WOMEN WAS ASKED FOR AN INTERVIEW ABOUT THOSE ASPECTS OF THEIR FAMILY LIFE THAT WERE THOUGHT TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE DETAINMENT OF THEIR HUSBANDS; 116 WOMEN AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY. ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THE WOMEN WERE LESS THAN 30 YEARS OF AGE AND CLOSE TO 90 PERCENT HAD ONE OR MORE CHILDREN. THE SUDDEN INTERRUPTION IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HUSBAND FREQUENTLY INSTIGATED TENSIONS, PROBLEMS WITH CHILD-REARING, AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, WHICH OFTEN RESULTED IN EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS FOR THE SPOUSE. SURPRISINGLY, ONLY IN FOUR INSTANCES WAS SOCIAL STIGMATIZATION IN SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTED. IN MOST CASES RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE FAMILY OF THE OFFENDER AND PROVIDED ACTIVE SUPPORT. NO CLEAR CONCLUSION COULD BE MADE ABOUT THE EFFECT DETENTION HAD ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPOUSE AND HER HUSBAND. MANY SPOUSES EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN RECEIVED WELFARE ASSISTANCE BUT MORE THAN HALF OF THEM CONSIDERED THAT ASSISTANCE INADEQUATE. THE INTERACTION WITH LAWYERS, AND REHABILITATION OFFICERS WAS JUDGED POSITIVE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN FELT THE NEED FOR A COUNSELING SERVICE. BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF PREVENTIVE CUSTODY ON THE SPOUSE, SUCH CUSTODY SHOULD BE LIMITED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THE TASKS OF SOCIAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE OFFENDER'S SPOUSE AND FAMILY. SEVERAL FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. --IN DUTCH. (WVK)