NCJ Number
53496
Date Published
1978
Length
95 pages
Annotation
A NEW YORK STATE STUDY OF BATTERED SPOUSES ATTEMPTS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY BATTERED WOMEN (AND MEN) THERE ARE, WHERE THEY ARE, AND HOW THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET BY THE SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN THIS FIRST STATEWIDE STUDY OF BATTERED SPOUSES (WHO ARE PRIMARILY FEMALE) IN NEW YORK, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS, WOMEN'S GROUPS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, HOSPITALS, AND HEALTH-RELATED FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, STATISTICS WERE GATHERED FROM THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION. RESPONDING AGENCIES REPORTED 10,165 BATTERED WOMEN OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD. OF ALL THESE CASES, 25 PERCENT WERE FROM NEW YORK CITY. SURVEY RESULTS INDICATED THAT WIFE BATTERING USUALLY BEGINS EARLY IN MARRIAGE, AND TYPICALLY THE WIFE ENDURES IT FOR 8 YEARS. WIFE BEATING USUALLY OCCURS IN THE EVENING AND IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL; IT IS A CLASSLESS OFFENSE, BUT UNDERREPORTED IN THE MIDDLE CLASS. OUT OF 506 SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES SURVEYED, 181 RESPONDED. COUNSELING WAS REPORTED TO BE THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER SERVICE, AND LEGAL AID WAS THE SECOND MOST REQUESTED. OUT OF 582 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SURVEYED, 146 RESPONDED. IT WAS FOUND THAT MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS DID LITTLE OR NO REPORTING OF INCIDENTS, AND OFFICERS ARE RELUCTANT TO ARREST OFFENDERS. IN ADDITION, 84 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENTS DID NOT REFER ANY CASES TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. FAMILY COURT DATA INDICATE THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN ASSAULT CHARGES FILED STATEWIDE. HOSPITAL DATA INDICATE THAT HOSPITALS OFTEN TREAT THE PHYSICAL INJURY WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO LOOK INTO THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OF THE ASSAULT. AN EXAMINATION OF SHELTERS REVEALED THAT THE DEMAND FAR EXCEEDED THE AVAILABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. THE REPORT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE FIELD OF BATTERED WIVES. SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, (2) REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO REPORT INSTANCES OF WIFE BATTERING, (3) OPEN MORE SHELTERS, (4) PROVIDE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND (5) ESTABLISH 24 HOUR HOTLINES. TABLES, CHARTS BREAKING DOWN RESPONSE BY COUNTY, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. FOR THE COUNTY-BY-COUNTY ANALYSIS, SEE THE APPENDIX, NCJ-53497. (MLC)