NCJ Number
117729
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Practical guidance is offered to help battered women obtain assistance from police and prosecutors.
Abstract
It is important that battered women decide beforehand if they will call the police next time they are attacked, what they are likely to say to the police, and what results will be achieved by calling the police. In finding out what to expect from the police, it may be advisable to first contact a shelter for battered women, a women's rights group, or the local bar association. Police must have a good reason to believe a crime has been committed before they can make a legal arrest. Even if police do make an arrest, the woman may or may not want the case to go to court. If the case does go to court, based on the prosecutor's decision, the court can order the batterer not to contact the woman for a certain period of time or can order the batterer to obtain counseling, get treatment for alcoholism, pay for the woman's medical treatment, and replace damaged or stolen property. Success at a court trial depends on such factors as how convincing the evidence is, whether the judge believes battering is a crime, how hard the prosecutor is willing and able to work on the case, whether programs exist for batterers, whether the man appears to be sorry, and whether the man seems to be a solid citizen.