NCJ Number
57939
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE VICTIMS INFORMATION BUREAU IS IN A MIDDLE-TO-UPPER- MIDDLE-CLASS COUNTY OF NEW YORK. IN ADDITION TO SHELTER AND ADVOCACY SERVICES, IT OFFERS A UNIQUE COUNSELING SERVICE TO HELP ABUSING HUSBANDS CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
POLICE, COURTS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES HAVE LONG REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERVENTION WHEN DEALING WITH JUVENILES WHO ARE THE OBJECTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, BUT THIS SUPPORT IS NOT EXTENDED TO ADULTS. SOCIETY ASSUMES THAT WHEN PEOPLE REACH LEGAL MAJORITY THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ASSAULTS BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND THAT WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN RELATED ADULTS, EXCEPT MURDER, IS NOT THE CONCERN OF GENERAL SOCIETY. BY IGNORING SUCH VIOLENCE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE COST OF SENDING POLICE TO THE SAME ADDRESS OVER AND OVER, THE COST OF INTERVENING ON THE BEHALF OF CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN THIS VIOLENCE, AND THE COST OF HANDLING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GROWING OUT OF SUCH VIOLENCE. THE VICTIMS INFORMATION BUREAU BEGAN IN 1976 AS A COMMUNITY-BASED, AUTONOMOUS VICTIMS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDED THROUGH THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE HOTLINE HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 9,000 CALLS AND 875 CLIENTS HAVE ATTENDED THE COUNSELING CENTER. THE BUREAU FOUND THAT MOST WOMEN DID NOT WANT TO END THEIR MARRIAGES, THEY JUST WANTED THE BATTERING TO STOP. THE CLINICAL DIRECTOR HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE FAMILY COUNSELING SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN USED WITH 135 COUPLES AND HAS ELIMINATED THE ABUSE IN EVERY CASE. FEDERAL FUNDING SHOULD ENCOURAGE FURTHER LOCAL EFFORT LIKE THIS. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 57922-57938 AND NCJ 57940-57941. (GLR)