NCJ Number
145090
Date Published
1992
Length
74 pages
Annotation
To illustrate the problem of violence against women in America, the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote a report describing the experiences of female victims of violence. This narrative puts a face on statistics showing that there were 1.1 million violent crimes against women reported to police in 1991 and unreported crimes may total three times that figure.
Abstract
The first section of the report outlines the stories of individual women, gathered from a cross-section of towns and cities across the country, who survived a violent attack, including a domestic assault, rape, or murder, during the first week of September 1992. Some of the myths shattered by this report: that victims are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, that domestic violence is merely a "push and a shove," and that violence is typically caused by strangers. The survey demonstrates that violence impairs some of the fundamental liberties of life in America, often involves repeat offenders and stalking behaviors, and has far-reaching psychological consequences, particularly on children. The Violence Against Women Act signals that crimes against women must be a national law enforcement priority, focuses on domestic violence, creates a civil rights remedy aimed at violent gender-based discrimination, highlights the unique problems facing young women on campuses, and recognizes the role the judiciary must play in providing an effective response to violent offenders. 12 notes and 3 appendixes