Citation

Wright CV, Johnson DM. Violence Vict. 2009; 24(6): 771-785.

Affiliation

Summa-Kent State Center for the Treatment and Study of Traumatic Stress, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Springer Publishing)

DOI

10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.771

PMID

20055214

PMCID

PMC2819311

Abstract

Legal redress can play a critical role in interrupting the pattern of domination and control inherent in intimate partner violence (IPV), yet it remains an infrequent strategy among battered women. The current study employed a contextual framework for investigating the correlates for engagement in the criminal justice system for a sample of 227 sheltered battered women. Results indicated that individual, relational, and system-level factors were all associated with two legal help-seeking behaviors: having a civil protection order and criminal prosecution. In particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, social support, and prior experience with police officers were significant correlates for legal help-seeking. Results highlight the need for a coordinated community response to IPV, addressing both legal needs and psychological needs simultaneously.

Language: en