Citation

Ekström V. Eur. J. Soc. Work 2014; 18(5): 661-674.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13691457.2014.951600

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Social workers and social work have been criticized for failing to address violence against women in adequate ways, of blaming the victim and failing to recognize domestic violence as a problem. At the same time, it is the social services that are responsible for support to abused women, according to amendments in the Social Services Act (2001). This article examines abused women's own experiences of support in connection with the police investigation of domestic violence. It is a qualitative study with six women who all have received support from the Relationship Violence Center (RVC) in Stockholm. The main findings in the article suggest that support in connection with the judicial process is important. Women's earlier experiences or preconceptions of the social services might prevent them from accepting support or turning to the social services for help.