NCJ Number
176570
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 1998 Pages: 333-346
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
One hundred thirty-seven women from a battered women's shelter in a medium-sized midwestern city were interviewed regarding their experiences with the police over the prior 6 months to determine the frequency of their police contacts and their reasons for not calling the police.
Abstract
The research was prompted by recognition that people commonly assume that women's reasons for not calling about domestic assault are intrapersonal, related to shame, embarrassment, and love. All the women had experienced physical violence, threats, or both from their assailants in the 6 months before entering the shelter. Eighty-nine percent reported that they had needed the police at least once, but only 67 percent reported contact with the police about the violence. Women gave multiple reasons for not calling the police, including situational barriers such as being physically prevented from using the telephone and/or being threatened with more violence. Only 3 percent of the participants reported that shame, embarrassment, or love were their only reasons for not calling the police. Underreporting was related to previous negative experience with the police, as well as to the level of violence experienced. Findings indicated the need for improved community responses, based on understanding of the many situational barriers that prevent women from calling the police. Tables, notes, appended list of instrument items, and 31 references (Author abstract modified)