NCJ Number
67614
Date Published
1979
Length
58 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A SURVEY DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH FAMILY VIOLENCE, PRIMARILY SPOUSE ABUSE, IS A PROBLEM IN THE GREATER EGYPT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REGION OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO A REVIEW OF ABSTRACTS OF CURRENT RESEARCH ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO 51 POLICE, STATE'S ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN THE REGION SURVEYED, ASKING THEM THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE REGION, THE CAUSES OF IT, AND SUGGESTED SERVICES TO HELP DEAL WITH IT. A TOTAL OF 34 (66 PERCENT) OF THE RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM IN THEIR AREA, AND 17 (34 PERCENT) SAID IT WAS NOT. A CHI-SQUARE TEST FOR SIGNIFICANCE FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT VARIANCE OF OPINION AMONG THE FOUR GROUPS SURVEYED. QUESTIONNAIRE FINDINGS SHOWED THAT NO POLICE AGENCY RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY HAD A WRITTEN POLICY REGARDING THE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS. POLICE FELT ALCOHOL ABUSE AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WERE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO SPOUSE ABUSE. STATE'S ATTORNEYS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION OVER THE PROSECUTION OF SPOUSE ABUSE CASES BECAUSE OF THE UNWILLINGNESS OF VICTIMS TO PURSUE THE MATTER IN COURT. EMERGENCY ROOMS OF HOSPITALS SHOWED LITTLE INTEREST IN OR AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM. RESPONDENT SUGGESTIONS FOR APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM ARE COUNSELORS ACCOMPANYING POLICE OFFICERS ON DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS, MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CURRICULUMS, TEMPORARY SHELTER CARE, CRISIS INTERVENTION, MANDATORY COUNSELING, VOLUNTEER COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND COUNSELING, COUNSELING FOR THE ABUSER, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING MEANS OF HANDLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE OFFERED BASED UPON THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. SURVEY RESULTS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.