Date of Award

Spring 2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology & Criminal Justice

Program/Concentration

Applied Sociology

Committee Director

Dianne C. Carmody

Committee Member

Doris Edmunds

Committee Member

Randy Gainey

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.S62 C655 2009

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the level of violence suffered by the victim in a domestic violence relationship and the criminal justice responses to that violence, namely arrest, prosecution and the issuance of protective orders. Data was obtained from a nonprofit domestic violence agency in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The data was collected by agency staff from victims seeking assistance. This study found that female victims of domestic violence that suffered higher levels of violence at the hands of their abuser were more likely to be issued a protective order. Female victims who suffered higher levels of violence were not however, more likely to experience the police arrest of the perpetrator, the police requesting an emergency protective order on their behalf, or the prosecutor filing charges. These findings imply the criminal justice responses currently in place are not being utilized to assist those victims that arguably need most help; those experiencing the most severe levels of violence.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/ybw1-cp18

Download

Share

COinS