NCJ Number
58416
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN WHO ARE BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS OR MALE FRIENDS IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH TEMPORARY SHELTER, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, HELP IN FINDING JOBS AND HOUSING, AND HELP IN OBTAINING WELFARE AND LEGAL AID.
Abstract
HERETOFORE, WOMEN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE LITTLE HELP FROM THE POLICE OR COURTS. POLICE, IN GENERAL, ARE AN OBSTRUCTION TO WIVES OBTAINING RELIEF FROM A VIOLENT HUSBAND. THEY TEND TO TREAT VIOLENCE TOWARD WIVES AS A 'DOMESTIC PROBLEM' GOING ON THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF THAT THE WIFE IS THE HUBAND'S PROPERTY. ANOTHER FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR RELUCTANCE TO INTERVENE IN WIFE ABUSE IS THAT 40 PERCENT OF JOB-RELATED INJURIES OCCUR DURING INVESTIGATIONS OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES. WOMEN ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT BRUTALITY AND ARE ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO FBI STATISTICS, WIFE BEATING AFFECTS AT LEAST THREE TIMES MORE WOMEN THAN RAPE. ONE OUT OF EIGHT MURDERS IN THE NATION IN 1973 INVOLVED A SPOUSE KILLING A SPOUSE. BECAUSE OF THE STIGMA OF BEING BATTERED, FEW WOMEN SEEK HELP. SOCIETY HAS, FOR THE MOST PART, FAILED TO RECOGNIZE WIFE ABUSE. SHELTERS SUCH AS THE BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO, WOMEN'S CRISIS SHELTER ARE NEEDED TO GIVE WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THEIR LIVES, JOB HUNT, AND REGAIN SELF-ESTEEM. THERE ARE STILL MANY IMPEDIMENTS TO SECURING LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST ASSAULTS BY A HUSBAND RANGING FROM IMMUNITY FROM SUIT AND FAILURE OF POLICE TO ACT AGAINST HUSBANDS, TO THE DISSUADING OF WIVES BY POLICE, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, AND JUDGES, AND THE DENIAL OF COMPENSATION BY PUBLIC REVIEW BOARDS. EVEN THOUGH THESE OBSTACLES EXIST, ABUSED WOMEN INCREASINGLY ARE PRESSING CHARGES. (STB)