ALTERNATIVES - A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR BATTERED SPOUSES

• NCJ Number: 54277
• Author(s): A NATION; B BURKEY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 60 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Labor
• Corporate Author: Nebraska Cmssn on the Status of Women
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Illinois Police Officer
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW IN THE EVENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE SPOUSE BATTERING HAS OCCURRED ARE PRESENTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON VICTIM AND ASSAILANT CHARACTERISTICS AND AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN IN NEBRASKA.

Abstract

THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO CHOICES IN THE CASE OF SPOUSE ASSAULT, LEAVE OR STAY. ANYONE CAN BE VICTIM OF ASSAULT, AND ATTACKS OFTEN BEGIN AS VERBAL ABUSE OR THREATS AND THEN TURN INTO BATTERY, RAPE, AND EVEN MURDER. SEVERELY BATTERED PERSONS ARE USUALLY WOMEN WHO ARE MARRIED TO THEIR ASSAILANTS. THIS IS WHY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SPOUSE ASSAULT OR WIFE BEATING. ASSAILANTS TEND TO LACK SELF-CONFIDENCE AND FIND ASSAULT AN OUTLET FOR THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND INNER FEARS. ASSAILANTS ARE FREQUENTLY SOCIALLY ISOLATED AND DO NOT HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS. THEY USE AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS OR VENT FEELINGS. GUIDELINES FOR LEAVING OR STAYING IN THE HOME WHERE ASSAULT HAS OCCURRED ARE PRESENTED ACCORDING TO 15 CATEGORIES. THESE CATEGORIES DEAL WITH PHYSICIAN SERVICES, HOSPITAL SERVICES, PLANNING, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY HOUSING, LEGAL ALTERNATIVES (CRIMINAL REMEDIES AND INJUNCTIONS), SERVICE RESOURCES (DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES), COUNSELING (MINISTERS, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, PRIVATE COUNSELORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, HOTLINE SERVICES, AND PEER COUNSELING), RAPE, ALCOHOLISM, CHILDREN (CAUSE AND EFFECTS OF ASSAULT AND ABANDONMENT), LEGAL REMEDIES, CIVIL ACTIONS AND REMEDIES (INJUNCTIONS AND RESTRAINING ORDERS, PEACE BONDS, TORTS, MENTAL COMMITMENT, CONCILIATION COURTS AND COUNSELING, LEGAL SEPARATION, DIVORCE, AND PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING LEGAL SERVICES), CRIMINAL ACTIONS (POLICE, ARREST AND THE VICTIM'S ROLE, WARRANT, ARRAIGNMENT, PRELIMINARY HEARING, PLEA BARGAINING, AND TRIAL), AND RELOCATION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CRIMINAL CHARGES AND PENALTIES, CRISIS LINES, RAPE LINES AND CENTERS, AND MAPS OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN NEBRASKA ARE APPENDED. A GLOSSARY AND A RESOURCE LIST ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)