NCJ Number
184742
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: 2000 Pages: 3-14
Date Published
2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 251 abused women, together with information from police reports and hospital records, provided information regarding the possible role of abuse as a coercive technique leading to illegal behavior by victims.
Abstract
The research used a convenience sample consisting of case records of abused women evaluated at a mental health center in an urban area. The study focused on the types of abuse experienced by these victim-perpetrators and their experience relating to fear and participation in illegal activities. Violent, coercive behaviors and threats by abusers were related to the victims’ perpetrating crimes. The victims described threats to harm their children and pets as important in their decision to obey the abusers’ orders and commit crimes. They also described as important past harm to pets, children, and other family members, as well as threats to harm immediately preceding the illegal act. The subjectivity of the research method limited the study. Nevertheless, findings suggested that an abusive and threatening climate may contribute to the commission of crimes. Further research should focus on the extent to which victim-perpetration exists among battered women, risk factors for potential coerced criminality among abused women, and the suffering of the victim-perpetrator in response to having behaved outside her own standards. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)