NCJ Number
191682
Journal
Crime, Law and Social Change Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: October 2000 Pages: 301-317
Editor(s)
Alan Block
Date Published
2000
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined women's perceptions of the "policing solution" to woman abuse.
Abstract
This study was conducted in the spring of 1997, and consisted of six focus groups of women (n=48) who immigrated to Canada from all over the world. The overall consensus of most of the women participants was that police intervention caused more harm and suffering than it helped. Three characteristics that stood out were social isolation, unequal power dynamics, and male dominance. Most of the women feared contacting the police would not only bring dishonor and shame to their husbands and family but to the ethnic community as well. This, in turn, would break ties with those who could assist as well as support them. Second, many feared the police, due in part to their own perceptions and their experiences with police in their own countries. Third, many felt that their claims would be discredited or ridiculed. In addition, socioeconomic vulnerability and insecurity played significant roles in their decisions not to involve the police. According to the authors and other researchers, the “ policing solution” should be “ de-centered” in order to cope with these fears. This means that government involvement should be reduced and community initiatives should be created to address the problem of abuse. Appendix, references