NCJ Number
158902
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
These recommendations for the Task Force on Violence Against Women focus on battered women and female rape victims.
Abstract
Regarding battered women, this paper recommends an increase in battered women's shelters; specific recommendations in this area are to establish and fund more shelters and to improve the pay and benefits for shelter workers. The second recommendation pertinent to battered women is to make the criminal justice system more responsive to such women; specific policy recommendations are to have required training for judges on the dynamics of domestic violence and required training for police officers on the dynamics of battered women; further, police departments should hold officers responsible who do not comply with victims' wishes for arresting batterers, or who do not comply with mandatory arrest policies. The third recommendation regarding battered women is to make social work and health-care providers more responsive, including required training for various social service and health workers on the dynamics of domestic violence. Regarding rape, one recommendation is to review State rape laws to ensure that they include marital rape. The second recommendation on rape is to enforce reformed rape laws; despite the changes that have been made in rape laws, many criminal justice decisionmakers continue to practice under pre- reform standards; attorneys who violate such standards as rape shield laws must be held accountable. 13 references