NCJ Number
180663
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 68 Issue: 11 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 19-24
Date Published
1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses Sweden's response to domestic violence.
Abstract
With the final report of the Committee on Violence Against Women in June 1995, the issue of violence against women started to attract significant attention in Sweden. The Swedish legislature previously viewed reconciliation between the involved parties as preferable to judicial intervention. Now, domestic violence is a general indictable crime. The change in Sweden's attitude concerning domestic violence against women has influenced the way police obtain evidence in such cases. Police officers, social workers, and health care providers are responsible to give women victims of domestic violence adequate medical, psychological, and social attention by discovering the extent and length of the abuse, documenting the physical evidence, empowering the victim to seek judicial action, and cooperating among themselves to develop a comprehensive approach to help the victim deal with the effects of domestic violence. Sweden provides police protection to victims of domestic violence and is considering the possibilities of electronically monitoring men who have violated restraining orders. Notes