What Doctors and Policymakers Should Know: Battered Women's Views About Mandatory Medical Reporting Laws

• NCJ Number: 205828
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 32 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2004 Pages: 207-221
• Author(s): Alisa Smith; Kristin Parsons Winokur
• Editor(s): Kent B. Joscelyn
• Date Published: May 2004
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored battered women’s views regarding the effectiveness of mandatory medical reporting laws using four separate attitudinal measures of support for these laws.

Abstract

The criminal justice response to domestic violence has changed tremendously in recent decades with medical professionals in 45 States and the District of Columbia required by law to report cases of domestic violence to law enforcement (mandatory medical reporting). It is uncertain whether victims favor these laws or are negatively affected by unintended consequences arising from mandatory reporting. This study surveyed battered women residing in shelters across the United States and asked them about their views concerning laws that require doctors and nurses to report to police injuries that they believe resulted from domestic violence. Specifically, they were asked if they supported the law, if they thought the law would benefit them and others in their situation, and whether they would be more or less likely to seek medical attention for domestic violence injuries in a community with this law. Four attitudinal measures were used: ADOPT-adopt mandatory reporting laws; BENFSELF- mandatory reporting laws would benefit you; BENFOTHR- mandatory reporting laws would benefit others; and REPORT- where there are mandatory reporting laws, would there be more of or less of a likelihood that medical treatment would be sought for domestic violence injuries. Three factors were used that influence whether battered women contacted the police or sought other forms of help: demographic, situational, and legal. The findings indicate that three of the four measures, ADOPT, BENFSELF, and BENFOTHR, demonstrated little variation across all factors. The fourth measure, REPORT, produced a number of significant relationships among the demographic, situational, and legal factors. Implications of the research are presented. References