NCJ Number
221757
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 25-45
Date Published
2007
Length
21 pages
Annotation
In this study, 14 women on probation or parole in a western U.S. county completed indepth interviews about the women's experiences of intimate-partner violence.
Abstract
All 14 women indicated that a current or former partner had shouted or yelled at them; called them names and/or insulted them; broken or destroyed their property; and pushed, slapped, shoved, or grabbed them. All of the women reported being sufficiently hurt by the partner to feel physical pain the following day. Ten of the women reported that a partner used force to make them have unwanted sex. For half of the women, abusive intimate relationships were preceded by experiences of childhood physical abuse and/or sexual abuse. Experiences of childhood abuse were often followed by abuse in adolescence and adulthood. Childhood use of illicit substances was reported by nine of the women. Drug or alcohol addiction was a problem for most. Ten women reported committing a crime because they were threatened by a partner or spouse. Eleven women admitted to committing a crime in an effort to please a partner or spouse. Some women talked about the ways their abusive partners exploited their children or other family members. Eleven women also reported that they admitted to committing a crime that was actually committed by a partner/spouse, and all but one woman said they lied to authorities to conceal a crime committed by a partner or spouse. These findings suggest that correctional programming for women must address their experiences of intimate-partner abuse as well as their childhood and adolescent physical and sexual abuse, along with the adverse mental states and behaviors that stem from such abuse. The women completed a brief telephone interview followed by extensive in-person interviews. 46 references