NCJ Number
50052
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 40-50
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED WIVES BY POLICE OFFICERS ARE EXPLORED, AND PROGRAMS STARTED IN SOME STATES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
BATTERED WIVES CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING PROBLEMS FACED BY POLICE OFFICERS, WITH FRUSTRATION OFTEN INTERPRETED BY WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATES AS HOSTILITY OR INDIFFERENCE. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY POLICE AVOID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO COPE WITH THEM. POLICE CALLS FROM BATTERED WOMEN ARE INCREASING BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED IN NEWSPAPERS AND ON TELEVISION, ALTHOUGH THESE CALLS REPRESENT ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF WIFE ABUSE. BECAUSE WIFE BEATING PER SE IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A DISTINCT CRIME BUT IS INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL CATEGORY OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF BATTERED WIFE CALLS HANDLED BY THE POLICE. WHEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE SUCH CALLS, RESPONSES VARY ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL PATROLMEN. PUBLIC FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR SHELTERS, SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. MOST SUPPORT GROUPS FOR BATTERED WOMEN WORK IN SOME WAY WITH LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. SUCH GROUPS INCLUDE THE RAINBOW RETREAT IN PHOENIX, ARIZ., THE BRADLEY-ANGLE HOUSE IN PORTLAND, OREG., THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE AND SURVIVAL CENTER IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J., AND TWO SHELTERS IN ST. PAUL-MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE SHELTER IN MINNESOTA, POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE, AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN SHELTERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. (DEP)