NCJ Number
55740
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
OBSERVATIONS REGARDING RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND BATTERED WIVES SHELTERS ARE HIGHLIGHTED; A RECOMMENDATION RELATING TO A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO FUNDING THESE SHELTERS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
PERVASIVE PROBLEMS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT INVITE THE SEARCH FOR POWERFUL AND FAR-REACHING SOLUTIONS WHILE OVERLOOKING MODEST, EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENTS. ONE IMPORTANT FEMINIST RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM IS THE ORGANIZATION OF CRISIS CENTERS AND SHELTERS TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY FOR THE VICTIMS OF RAPE AND BATTERING. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE 24-HOUR TELEPHONE CRISIS INTERVENTION, TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER, COUNSELING, AND ADVOCACY WITH THE LEGAL AND MEDICAL SYSTEM. COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON RAPE PREVENTION, PUBLICITY ON THE INCIDENCE OF RAPE AND BATTERING AMONG ALL AGES AND SOCIAL CLASSES, DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-TERM ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES FOR VICTIMS OF BATTERING, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DIRECTED TOWARD MEDICAL AND LEGAL PERSONNEL TO SENSITIZE THEM TO THE MOST BLATANT OF THEIR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS VICTIMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED. THE MOST DIRECT RESULTS OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE THAT THE ADVOCACY AND COUNSELING REDUCE THE ISOLATION OF A VICTIM AND LESSEN HER VULNERABILITY TO ABUSE BY MEDICAL AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS, HER FAMILY, AND HER OWN FEAR OF GUILT. CRISIS CENTERS ALSO SERVE AS VITAL LINKS BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM BY PROVIDING CONTACT FOR POLICE AND PROSECUTORS WITH VICTIMS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT REPORT THE CRIMES. INTERVENTION ENABLES VICTIM-POLICE INTERACTION TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND RATIONAL RATHER THAN BEING AN EXCHANGE OF DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH OVERWHELMING EMOTION. A SUSTAINED, LONG-TERM NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO MODEST FUNDING OF SUCH CENTERS AND SHELTERS WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CHANGING THE VIOLENT PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR WHICH CONCERN SOCIETY. (LWM)