WIFE ABUSE - AN OVERVIEW, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA

• NCJ Number: 51875
• Author(s): S R HUMPHREY; C M HUNTER; B A KELLEY
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 68 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF WIFE ABUSE IS PRESENTED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CONJUGAL VIOLENCE, AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO BATTERED WIVES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND IN SURROUNDING AREAS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE FREQUENCY, OCCURRENCE PATTERNS, METHODS OF ASSAULT, AND USUAL FORMS OF PROVOCATION OF CONJUGAL VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAMILY STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL POSITION AND SOCIAL VALUES ON FAMILIES' SUSCEPTIBILITY TO VIOLENCE. IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (D.C.), WIFE ABUSE IS CONSIDERED ASSAULT AND WIFE ABUSERS ARE PROSECUTED BY THE U.S. ATTORNEY OFFICE, WHICH HAS THE OPTION OF REFERRING INTRAFAMILY CASES TO THE D.C. CORPORATION COUNSEL FOR CIVIL PROCEEDINGS OR TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR OF FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES. A HEARING ON WIFE ABUSE CAN RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF A CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER OR OF A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE HUSBAND. THE D.C. CRIMINAL COMPLAINT CENTER FUNCTIONS AS A COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE SUPERIOR COURT, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THE D.C. CORPORATION COUNSEL. ABUSED WIVES ARE REFERRED TO THIS AGENCY TO ENABLE THEM TO BEGIN PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THEIR HUSBANDS. THE TEDIOUS, FRUSTRATING, AND OFTEN FRUITLESS EXPERIENCE OF WIVES WHO ATTEMPT TO PROSECUTE THEIR ABUSERS BY THESE MEANS IS ILLUSTRATED AND THE ATTITUDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENTS TOWARD WIFE ABUSE CAES IS CONSIDERED. PROGRAMS FOR AIDING ABUSED WIVES IN OPERATION IN AREAS SURROUNDING D.C. INCLUDE THE RICHMOND (VA.) CRISIS CENTER AND THE FARFAX COUNTY (VA.) WOODBURN CENTER FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH, BOTH OF WHICH PROVIDE EMERGENCY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES ON A 24-HOUR BASIS AND SEND MOBILE UNITS TO ACCOMPANY POLICE ON EMERGENCY CALLS INVOLVING INTRAFAMILY CONFLICTS. THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MD.) PASSAGE CRISIS CENTER HAS AN EMERGENCY 24-HOUR WALK-IN COUNSELING SERVICE AND TWO MOBILE UNITS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE D.C. CITIZEN'S COMPLAINT CENTER'S SERVICES TO ABUSED WOMEN, AS WELL AS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES AND COMPLAINT CENTER FORMS, ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)