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Programs Branch User Report
AN INTEGRATED RESPONSE TO WIFE ASSAULT: A COMM UNITY MODEL
NO. 1984-27
m
the Solicitor General of Canada
Hv 700 .C2 J3 1984
■11.
5
Secretariat
RARY 01- IHE
SEP 25 1984
BiBLIOTHÈQUE MINISTÈRE DU SOLLiCliEuR GÉNÉRAL
--)1V 'quo C -,3?)
gt[
Peter Jaffe Carole Anne Burns
Department of Psychology The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
AN INTEGRATED RESPONSE TO WIFE ASSAULT: A COMMUNITY MODEL
NO. 1984-27
This working paper was prepared under contract for the Research Division and is made available as submitted to the Ministry. The views expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada. This working paper may not be published, cited or reproduced without permission of the Ministry.
This working paper is available in French. Ce document dé travail est disponible en français.
TAELE OF CONTENTS
Page
Fo r'ar
Acknow 1 t.doements 44 — ='.%=--- 4-'ve. Summary iii
1. An Introduction to Wife Abuse 1 Research
2. The Criminal Justice System's 8 Response to Abused Women
(a) A Study of the Criminal 11 . Justice Response in
London, Ontario
(b) Victims' Persmective 20
(c) Summary of Research Findings 26
3. Recommendations 29
(i) Improving Police Intervention 30
(ii) Victim Advocacy Service 34
(iii)Treatment for Assailants 39
(iv) Educating Professionals 46
(a) Co-ordination of 48 Human Services
4. Impact of the Research Findings on 50' the Community
(a) Working Assumptions 51
(b) The London Co-ordinating 54 Committee on Family Violence
5. Conclusions 6 1
References 64
Appendices
A. 7nad,..r.r-ac'es 'n th.= -rd 4 17.'onal 68 Responses to Abused Women by the C- , m4 nel us.ce, iedL cal, Mental Health, and Social Service Systems
32
87
88
Table of Contents Cont'nuerl
Appendices Cznt'd
3. Code Sheets for London Police Force 75 Remorts
C. Code Sheetà for London Police Fort SO Private Information Case History and Charge Sheets
D. Code Sheet for Family Court Files
E. Code Sheet for Data from London Police Force Computer Files
F. SupplementaryInformation from Police and Court Files
G. Letter Sent to Females Who Ead Call ,.d the 94 Police
E. Interview Form 96
Z. Selected Case Histories ?rom Researcher's 110 Interviews with Abused Females
J. Supplementary Information from Interviews 123 with Abused Females
K. The Needs of Battered Women 135
L. Recommendations for Improving Traditional 138 Responses
M. Community Response to Abused Women 140 Questionnaire
Memo to Police Officers Concerning 141 Charges to be Laid
O. Victim Information Card and Directive 1 42 to Officers
P. Newspaper Article. Criminal Charges More 145 Likely: Police Acting Against Wife- Beate-à;. The London Free Press, July 13, 1981.-
38
126
178
129
130
LC'S"' OF TABLES
Pace
1. Tyme c= 7'nju-v 7 n="cted on V'ctims 1 4 Ac-cr= 4 ng "o mol , -= Remo-t
2. Treatment cf Injuries Received by 16 Females who were Assaulted
3. Court Dispositions for Various Types of Charges
4. Interviewed Females Who Were Satisfied 24 or Dissatisfied with the Criminal Justice System Intervention
5. American Victim Advocacy Services for Abused Women
6. American Counselling Programs for Male Satterers
7. A. Location of Assault 89 B. Witnesses to the Assault C. Ethnicity
8. A. Length of Probation Orders & Condi- 92 tional Discharges
B. Conditions of Probation Orders C. Details of Fines and Jail Sentences D. Presentence Reports
9. Occupational Classifications of Working 124 Males and Females
10. Interviewed Females who Contacted Various Community Agencies
11. Abused Females' Expectations of Police Before They Arrived at the Scene of the Assault
1 2. Abused Females' Responses as to What Police Of = cer Should Have Done
13. Su7-=.- 'ors = -cm Abus..d F=mal== who Laid Char=s as to what the justic= o= the te.c= .hould have Don= or Should 4 o in "h..
List of Tables Contnued
P.ce
14. Responses from ?..buse' Females whc Laid Charges as to What rhe Crown Attorney Should have Done or Should Oc in the Future
13. General Recommendations From Victims 1 34 of Family Violence
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Flowchart of Decisions to be Made by 7 Abused Females
2. Extent of Violence Used by Males Against Female Partners 13
'22
/1/ . , Lnspector John Robinson LiSpecial Services London Police Force
FORWARD
The Police are the agency which respond most frecuently to complaints of wife/spouse assault and, therefore, are in a most advantageOus position to implement changes in attitudes toward such activities. However, in order to be effective in implementing change, the Police must first change their own attitudes and approaches to the problem.
The preliminary thrust of this Committee and any other committees which may develop to improve the Criminal Justice System's response to wife/spouse abuse was, and must be, to effect a change in Police policy so as to demand an action-oriented approach leading to the laying of criminal charges where the necessary evidence exists. The Policy must then be "sold" to each individual officer as being necessary and appropriate.
The Police are the "grass roots" of the Criminal justice System and are able, through a consistent and reasonable approach, to impact the system in a manner that will alter the attitudes of the other segments of the system. .
IT WILL NO7 SE EASY OR QUICK BUT 17 MUST BE DONE.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL. F7-1DAY. JULY 9. 19S2
Po lice should la‘f charge • • • ".....")•••• I • •••• i.,‘ sy
01-rAw:t. - Te Conimprts iir...nunousr.v pubcc torccs yrsterday to lay cliarges regularly in wifo-abuse cases. Ponce generally troat wife fiat. terng as an internal faintly matter and are hesi-tant to iay charzes. Conser:ative MP Arnold Ma-lone told the Flo-uit:e. "Theuent failure to lay cnarges pinces a heinous burden on the wives, vvho have to then ascertain as to whether or not it is prucient to have charges laid," the MP for Crowfoot said. He commended the pv.ilice force of London .
Ont., for its policy of remilarly ayin:: charges in all cases where rmsonabie and prrg:11;,ie grounds ex. ist. And MPs from ail thrc.i-a ttarties applauded as he suggestt.,d that the Commons encourage ail police forces r.0 ireet • ife abuse "as !hey are inclined to do with any cnarge of common assa. ult."
ACUNCWW:=G7erer"
The present research was funded bv the Research
Division of the Ministry of the Solicitor General of
Canada. The opinions expressed reflect the views cf the
authors and do not necessarily indicate any formal
statements or policies of the Department of the Solicitor
General of Canada. The authors acknowledge the feedback
they received from Dr. Gerry Leger, the research advisor
and liaison with the Department of the Solicitor General
of Canada. The London Co-ordinating Committee on Family
Violence was an important guidance in developing the
recommendations and in reviewing the data. Finally,
members of the London Police Force, particularly Inspector
John Robinson, Constable Rusty Fulton, and the Family
Consultant Service staff, were extremely helpful in
providing access to data and provided a clearer understanding
of the criminal justice system process.
-4i 4-
EXECWTIVE SUMmlr,.v
The time has passed when Canadian communities
cari deny the high incidence of wife assault. 1n the past,
individuals and public agencies have avoided the i s sue
by refusing to intervene in most cases and by dismissing
the violence as an isolated event or as a characteristic
of a more serious disorder. The fact is that between
10% (MacLeod, 1980) and 50% (Straus & Hotaling, 1980; Walker,
1979) of all women'are continuously being beaten in their
own homes by male intimates who are attempting to make
them submissive to their control and demands. The continual
threatening and assaults, in conjunction with a negative
response from community agencies, causes most abused
women to lose.any hope of circumventing the inevitable,
escalating cycle cf violence.
The first step in changing this pattern of
violence against women is the development of coMmunity
awareness about the problem. Only when members of society
express their intolerance for family violence, will males
be deterred from using this form of control. Human
service professionals, in pa--"^”la-, must clearly define
their perception of family violence, the reasons whv it
occurs, and the roles and needs of the victim and the
batterer. Professionals must also distinguish between
-iv-
the real and imagined limitaticns of their service =andates
and professional capabilities, in order that they might
view themselves as appropriate interveners in these
cases.
The next step in addressing the problem cf
wife assault is to provide intervention strategies and
services that specifically identify the violence, are effective
in convineingthe male that his behaviour is wrong, and
also which often support the victim. Furthermore, the
services must be well integrated into the community so
that all professionals are sensitive to the problem and
can share in the task of meeting the wide variety of
needs presented by victims and batterers.
The present report represents one ccmmunity's
response to wife assault. rt was assumed that the community,
through the leadership and advocacy of the criminal justice
system, could improve services to victims of family
violence by becoming more aware of the dynamics of the
problem and by realizing the limitations in existing
services. The model for ccmmunitv response was based
on the elements of service co-ordination and research
direction. The co-ordination of services was operationalized
through the creaticn of a co-ordinating ccmmittee on family
violence which includes 1-=tr-=sentatives frcm the police
force, the Crcwn attcrney's office, the Justices
of the Peace, family lawye-s, mental health professicnals,
researchers, social service professicnals, and the prcbaticn
IrL _ ..... was mand=c="
tc advise and studv research cn w''e as ------'-- _
and z- -ev'=w c-h=- "c= - = --- = ' 4 n''n-s, e'e"ee 4e." V
-h= ca.. =se=--n s--"v "cc-se' cn '==cc't'n=
how w''= assau't cases a-= c -ccessed t-cugh the criminal
fustice =water. and the fcllcwing data highlight the
cf a -eview cf =lice and court files:
- te -w==n :=n- =-Y =n' :un= cf L979, 222 females -h= L.-n"mn C'tv ?olice Force reporting an assault or a -'--=ac=-1=d bv th='- ca-tn=r cr ex-parce:;
- zh= mc=z ccrtcn type cf violence used against the females was kicking, biting, cr hitting her with a fist;
- ool'ce laid six charges (2% cf cases) of assault- causing ^cd"v harm en" nc czh=- ch.-r=s we-= 1 .1d tv
- pclice cfficers advised en cf the vict'ms -c "=v own charges;
- 17% cf :he famales who were alle;ealv assau - c=d w=-= by police cc seek ==,..."-=' azzention cr were taken co a creacm=nz centre;
- only 17% cf the females whz called the mc''c=
'SP; zhe. z:D •• ce casa z- cc--- h." ch= assa 4 lanc; and
z- w'zh'r , wn ch: e
0- wcz-c f cd cc z
'eze-m'z.= zf w .L.fe assau.:z
znzez-.- enzzzn zney rece:. -,-e, an azzemzz we= zz
-vi-
inte ,-v 4 w all of the 7 4 ct 4 ms who had c= 11 --- ,' the malice
4 n the eirsz half o' 1979. Si:‹ty-cwc females (23%)
wer= 4 nte-74 .=wed and ..rmcmt=d te 'ol 7 ow4 ng 'nfo ,-mation:
the females had been assaulted an average cf 35 times beear-e 1 979;
- 51% of the wcman wanted the pclice to lay assault charges;
- 66% of the interviewed females felt that their partners had some type of problem which led to the abuse including excessive alcchal consumption ,and emotional and psychiatric difficulties;
- 62% of the females who proceeded to court reported that the process helped to reduce or terminate the violence; and
- only half of the females were satisfied with the police intervention and of those proceeding to court, half were satisfied with the justice of the peace's response and only 31% were satisfied with the Crown attorney's intervention.
Throughout the development and execution oe the
research study, membersof the London Co-ordinating Ccmmittee
on Family Violence provided input in clarifying the
criminal justice prccess, interpreting the results, and
suggesting changes and innovations in the current service -
delivery system. The results of the research study in
conjunction with the committee members' evaluaticns led
to the following recommendaticns for an effective, integrated
ccmmittee respcnse:
a) encourage the London Police Farce to change pclicy which wculd allcw then to Lay mcre charges cf assault in wife assault cases;
-vii-
) establish a self-help group for batterers with the cc-operation of judges for court-mandated treatment;
C) establish a victim advocacy service to provide assistance through,the criminal justice system process, counselling, and information; and
d) improve public and professional education on the issue of wife assault.
Since these recommendations were endOrsed by
the professionals in the various community systems, there
has been a commitment to implement the policies and programs.
For example, the London City Police Force has changed
their policy regarding the necessity of witnessing a
common assault and the result has been a dramatic increase
in the number of assault charges (both C.C. 245(1) and
245(2)) being laid by police. The treatment group for
assailants is currently in omeration and negotiations for
government funding for a victim advocacy clinic are
underway.
Finally, members cf the London Co-ordinating
Committee on Family Violence and other committee professionals
are advocating an improved resmonse to wife abuse by
keeping other members in their departments informed by
examining interna l policies, attending speaking engagements,
and mart'c'ma"no 'n con=-=nces and media events.
1 AN :r7RODUCT=ON 70 W7FE ASUSE RESEARCS
Wife abuse has become a topic for research
study only since the 1970's, when various women's organizations
began to establish services and shelters for battered
women at the grassroots level. As it became more acceptable
for women to expose the violence they were experiencing
in their homes, mrofessionals were astonished at the
large number of cases coming to the attention of the
emergency shelters, police, doctors, and social workers.
It became obvious that this was a problem which reached
epidemic proportions.
One of the first goals of many researchers
was to approximate the incidence of wife abuse in our
society (Gelles, 1980). Estimating the incidence of wife
assault has been very difficult because many abused women
will not contact outside sources of help and even when
they do, many mrofessionals do not know how to deal with
family violence. Often, records are not kept when the
violence is reported. In the mast, researchers have
estimated that one in ten (e.g., MacLeod, 1980) women
living with a male partner will be assaulted during the
relationship; however, more recent studies have
incidence cf wife assault much higher. Straus and Hozaling
-2-
(1980) review a survey conducted with 2,143 Amer , oan
families and report that "the true incidence for violnce
in a marriage is probably closer to 50% or 60% of all
couples than it is to the 23% who are willing to descrihe
violent acts in a mass interview eurvey" (p.31). The
reasons why they selected a higher rata than the one which
was reported were (a) many people under-report incidents
of violence which they feel are flot serious enough
to constitute an assault; (b) some feel that abuse is
normal in a relationship; (c) very serious incidents of
violence are. too embarrassing for some respondents to
reveal; and (d) the survey onlv included married people
and did not contain data from separated or divorced couples
for whom violence may have been a causal factor in the
marriage break-up.
Since the reporting of wife assaults to community
agencies is nct standardized, researchers have had to rely
on other sources of information in order to estimate the
prevalence of wife abuse. One indication that the rate
of wife abuse is very high in Canada comes from homicide
records. Heckler and Cauld (1881) report that 30% of
the homicides in Ontario, 25% in British Columbia, and
48% of the homicides in the Prairie Provinces resulted from
domestic relationships. We can reasonably assume that
these homicides ve:rv small fraction of all
women who are being beaten by their partners and are receiving
-3-
iries which do not result in their deaths.
Family violence researchers have tried to
identify factors that are associated with the occurrence
of wife abuse (Genes, 1980) and one of the most salient
characteristics of this type of violence is that it is
transmitted from one generation to the next. It has been
estimated that 50% of abusers have witnessed their fathers
beating up their mothers and between 20% and 40% of the
victims also observed parental' violence (Gayfcrd, 1975;
Galles, 1976; Langley & Levy, 1977). :n addition, Langley
& Levy (1977) report that 40% of assailants were abused
themselves as children. When these males grow um, they
view the act of exercising control through violence as
a legitimate form of dominance and will resort to this
"normal" response when faced with situations of insecurity,
stress, and conflict. Similarly, women who have watched
their mothers being beaten on numerous occasions learn
that they must be submissive to men and that they are the
appropriate victims of their husbands' violent outbursts.
In fact, many abused women feel very responsible for the
violence perpetrated by their male partners and assume
guilt for the male's action.
The>rP is another cycle in family violence that
does not take place across generations but Occurs within
a particular relationship. :f a woman has been hit once,
she will probably be hit again (Shainess, 1979). The
-4-
male 's by the control he b=s teen e.^'-=
attain through hurting and intimidating his mate. :t is
this continual abuse that follows a cyclical pattern and
Walker (1979) conceptualizes it in three distict phases.
The first past is characterized by incidents cf tension
and conflict and may result in minor assaults cà the wcman.
During the second phase, the major assault(s) takes place
and the male's behaviour resembles being 'out of control'.
Many batterers do not remember the acts they coMmit
during this period of blind rage. The third phase of the
cycle is the aftermath of the violence when the male is
extremely loving, kind, and contrite. He becomes charming
and manimulative with the woman and with anyone else
who tries to intervene and his worst fear is that the female
will leave him.
Another common feature of wife abuse is the male's
reliance on alcohol, particularly when the violence occurs.
Research indicatesthat at least one-half of identified
abusers have been drinking immediately befcre the assaultive
incident and many are heavily dependent on alcohol to
relieve feelings of stress and anxiety (Eglev, 1961;
Fleming, 1979; Gayford, 1973; Goode, 1979; Roy, 1977).
Many abusers blame the alcohol for making them commit the
assault and they believe that if they stcpped drinking, the
violence would te.rminate as well.
-5-
Othe= factors that are assoéiated with wife
abuse include the following: (a) in amproximately one-
half of the identified wife assault case, the violence
commences or becomes very severe when the female is pregnant
(Lanclev & Levy, 1977; O'Brien, 1971; Walker, 1979);
(b) the male attempts to isolate the female from family
and friends so that she is completely dependent on him
and he becomes obsessively jealous cf any outside contacts
she makes (Chaoman, 1979; Gelles, 1972, Eilberman, 1980;
Langley & Levy, 1977); (c) the male is often very
dissatisfied with his job and his financial situation (O'Brien,
1971; Straus et al, 1930); and (d) wife abuse occurs in
all socioeconomic classes but the majority of cases which
come to the attention of the police and other community
orofessionals are from the lower classes since they have
fewer alternatives for help or escape (c-elles, 1973;
Straus et al., 1980).
The reason why wife assault is so prevalent in
our society is because manv males are convinced that they
have a right to dominate and control females. When this
power claim is threatened, phys'cal =o-c=. 4 3 ,..egarded as
a legitimate method of regaining control, especially since
males are socd t o ===ss 4 v= and females are
soc4.1-.A -z b= vzct"ns (Chapman, 1 973; Straus et a',
1980 ; wa lk.-, 1979). ma ,-tin (1976) reports that the violence
provides mcment= -7 m -cm the ma l.t s e..14ng cf
anxiety about '.. 4 s ‘."= ,-- 4 v-ess as a man. This theory of
-6. -
dcminaticn and se=a 1 inecualitv is supper-ted by the f , neing
that abuse cften mccurs in relaticnships where the female's
educaticnal and/cr cccupaticnal status is higher than the
male's aangley & Levy, 1 977; O'Brien, 1971).
Since much of the research in this field has
focused on the prevalence, causes, and factors asscciated
with wife assault, little attention has been given to the
wav community agencies respcnd to these cases (see Appendix
A for a review of the literature on the traditional
responses of criminal justice, medical, mental health, and
social service systems). This is an important aspect of
the problem since most abused women feel that they can
never tell community professionals and those that do
report it usually have been abused for a Long pericd of
time. It is imperative that abused women receive appropriate,
supportive interventions when they identify themselves;
otherwise, they will resolve themselves to a situation which
they perceive as unavoidable and insoluble.
,/■ . unta -è outslue aneney? (115-17i2-:
Ives
( STOP no,'" contaCtS
201 ice?
emeli wants to
ay charge?
solicd refer mer elsewhere?
solici lay charge?
yes
I Police refe,•
I
i -Family Consul .snelter -hospital
ie yeS 1 3M
;emale attends
Court
Chareete
CC Z4S-2
—7— (.....«,-- . •
fri..dlp 77\ essiultra 1.1
her p.rtner
. .. --.........1 1
F i criare 1
Interview with Justice of the Piffle
C)aree: e
CC 245.2 CC24S-1 CC 745
• CC 245-7 - rate.iml marl
C: 24S-I curmon e.sault CC 745 - thmeLehinh
Figure 1. rim. ■ hlre. of is tn to! mdUm by dhuu.d rreirmrolmq Ouf.'. irk; ,,,,, y Imo', 1 dyinq . 9 . 11
thrown' th. p,.',..
fe.orr,
-8-
2. THE CR=AZ SUSI"TC'e RESPONSr T.r) A3US;7.7, WCY-eN
One ccmmunitv system that is contacted by a large
number cf abused wcmen is the criminal justice system
since their mandate is tm intervene in the commission
of criminal acts, which includes physical violence
against another person. The objective of this research
study was to investigate the wife assault cases reported
to the criminal justice system in London, Ontario, and
to describe the ways this system responds to wife
assaults.
Figure 1 outlines the typical process that the
abused female who seeks outside help must go through
beginning with her involvement with outside agencies.
For many abused women seeking outside interventicn,
their first contact with the police department occurs
immediately following an assault.
When the police cfficer arrives at the scene of
an alleged assault he has a number of options available
to hi.: (a) he may arrest where there is sufficient
evidence tc establish that an assault causing bcdily
hart ha s cccurred and an arrest is necessary to establish
the assailant's identify, to prevent a ccntinuaticn
of the offence, or to ensure that the assailant will
aPPea= in court; ( o) !le may cause an assauIt causing
bcdily harm informaticn tc be laid and a summcns issued
-9-
where it is deemed not necessary to effect an arrest;
(c) he can advise the victim of her options to proceed
rider the provisions of the Familv Law Reform Act or
the Criminal Code; (d) he may arrest the assailànt
pursuant to Section 31 of the Criminal Code of Canada and
hold him in custody (no charges are laid) if he does
not have grounds to believe that an assault causing bodily
ha =m has occurred but has reasonable and probably grounds
to believe that if he leaves, a breach of the peace
is likely to continue; (e) in London, Ontario, the
officer may call upon the services of the Family Consultant
team who are trained in crisis intervention; (f) he
may attemmt to mediate the dispute and, if unsuccessful,
advise one of the parties to leave the scene; (g) he may
refer the parties to other agencies in the community;
or (h) he may take no further action if he feels that
the danger to the victim is not likely to recur.
If a woman decides to charge her partner with
assault causing bodily han, common assault, or threatening,
she must make an appointment to see a justice of the peace
at the courthousewho decides the following: whether or
not a charge should be laid; what type of charge should
be laid; when the cas e. will be heard in court; which
court will hear the case; and whether a warrant or summons
should be issued to the male. Once a decision has been
-10-
made by the justice of the eace to process the charge,
the woman must arrange to attend an inter7iew at the
police station where an officer records the details
of the assault or threat. In cases where the pol:ice
officers have laid assault charges against the males,
the women do- not have to go through the ateps of
seeing a justice of the peace and going to the police
station for an interview.
' In all cases where the assailant has been charged,
either by police or by the victim, the woman receives
a .subpeona to attend court as the Crown attorney's
witness. If the assailant pleads not guilty, the case
goes to trial and the woman is called to testify on
the stand. If the man pleads guilty to the charge (s),
the woman does not have to appear.
A) A STUDY OF THE CR=NAi SvS-"I'M PONz 7." :N LONDON, ONTARIO
Most abused women who seek help from the criminal
justice system, call the police. These women seek
immediate protection frein their assailant. in order to
investigate the types of cases which come to the attention
of the police and to determine the department's subsequent
response, a sample of assaulted women was selected from
the 'London City Police Force occurrence reports usinc
the following critera:
1) the abusive incident occurred between January 1st,
1979, and June 20, 1979; 2) the female reported to the
police that she had been assaulted or threatened with
violence bv a male to whom she was ma-4 d, separated,
divorced, or living with in the saine residence; 3) an
assault was defined as any physical force which was
applied on the female without her consent; and 4) a
threatened assault occurred when the female believed
that her oartner was going no assault her.
information from the following sources was
recorded on code sheets: (i) the occurrence reports
wh4 ch =-e e:11,:, cut by the police officer after he
-as investigated the call (see Appendix 3); (ii) the
che-ce. she.ets and the oz"v.te information case histories
wh' ,-h are comolezed a'te- the 'em.'. c- •ne. office-
1 mh°7-tv-sic
-7Z-
;
e , ..s '==. Aax E:.
The tcmal number of alleged assault
assauts ccmr-itted against a wcman bv her partner or
ex-partner, and reperted to police was 222,.wit.1 15 of
t.....=se women calling the col'^= tw'c=.
Zicure 2 disclavs the zyte cf viclence used
acaihst the fema'es and shows that the mre- zvte
cf viclence was k'ck'ne, b' - 'nc, or h'tt'nc the f
with a closed fist. Ter wcmen (5%) were it with.scmetbir.g,
e'ght (4%) were beaten up and in 12 cases (7%), the male
either zhreatened the female with a weapcn or actually
used 't on her.
The -v-e G e in-H-v that the z===.e
of the vic'o.s -e e-,- (63) receiv=. ... iisih1e :a:
bruis.Lng, lace-azicns and '-actu-es, to
injuries. :n 7 4 cases (39'.) was
bur. the 'njur:.e= w=== not tc th .c -"--=-.
shculd be :zef that the 1nvestiating --"'-=-=
-
cases.
30 - Number 1) 1
Cases.
I 0 I 0 Il
to
2 (I
_
21 20 -
10 -
0
Figure 2: Exient of Violence Used by Maies Against Peina le Parinels
G)
1•1
1
GO -I
!,0 _
4 0 -
n Cl/ (P 4 ) J., • .-- 1 / 4 ) C: 'T /
I 1 Q1 I. •r-- 7., C.11 I) .0 ..-- .e- CD a/ C: 0 .0 I1) C: ...e n t: Al -X •r- . 'I I 1:1 e § 1 L•r- 01 11 0 1 gi ^ 1_11 .C: '11 II1 1:1 ILI -1) I-) I/1 ( ) ----- .C: :1 f .1 al CZ as I: «I •r- X :,,e -g-- I i (II I I 81 ) ( l. sit ,-•r- • - • c) I b I. •11 0 1 I ) In .1: C) at -%e 01 I:: . ■
- .: 1 -• 0_ _1 1: 1 1- 41 tll s' (10 tli C: Cl 1 1 CI 01
1- g- g- I i In 01 C.) si) t) 8.5,-- if. 111 r: 1- I 1 Ill III C: 0 1: i: t.. 0 :1 t. 1 .--• .3.- L. •r- L 0 01 I b 1-:*— W ta .11 I I I b 1 ) 1 ) • 0 tit ti 1.1I In •ol '..V: 0 .e, 1.1 1f1 ..(«I t) 53 -e: 'e :1
cf :njury Frequency Pcat %)
191 101
-14-
" -
Nc injury 49 2S
Ilc visila injury 74 / - .., '../
le , 17
.Isceraticn 27 14
• :fracture • 3 1
Se - cus Mu'tiple Injuries 5 3
* :nformation cn injuries was missing frcm 37 police occurrence reports.
-15-
w'th other reports that abused ==m=1==
saljv ec- _ _
Table 1 shows -hat "E. ==ma'es (E2% c= ==se-' - = ,= ====' ,=swe-= not
a=v's=,' =c. ,4 d'd nr-r. c for o.aot. "h's percenteg= does noz
include the 40 f=mel=s who were threatened and not essault=d o-
the43 . cases where the officer did not record the treatment
required.
Although 3 zeà cf the females -= ,- ='v=d visible
injuries, police officers laid only six charges (3% of
sample), all cf which were assault causing bodily harm.
One hundred and thirty-six women (62%) were:advised about
laying private informations and 86% of this rout were advised
to lay charges of common assault. Only 5% of the females
wer= adv'sed by police to contact the local shelter for
• battered women.
The numbe- c= t'=es that the Icr..4on Pol i ce 7c -- =
w=-= invlvei w"h the males 'n this ser.- 1 =, cric: to =n 4
after the study d, was cb=ained from the tolice comtute,-
Ea-ween Zanua=v :97E and Decembe= 197E, males
he.4 an ev=rece o= ='v= pol i ce interventions for = v=r'ety
c= ====.-"n= oth== th=h ==m"y troubl= traffi c
f_chtihg with others, etc.:, and the females had callad
the police to r=r - -: family trouble incident.: ch ah a...erage
83 116
3 4
TOTAL 139 100
-16—
TA3LI /
Treatment for :nfuries Received Only 3y Females Una Were Assaulted Acccrding to Police Reports
Treatment Sought Frequency Percent (%) of Assaulted. Wdmen
None
Advised by police ta see doctor
Advised by police to go te emergency 3 2
Taken by police to U. • 8 emergency
Eospitalized 5 4
-17-
of 1.1 occasions. Between July 1979 and Aor'l 193 1 , the
males were involved with police an average of 2.5 times for
various reasons and police were called by the females an
average of 0.9 times for family trouble.
Only 37 of the females (17%) who were in contact with
the police during the six month period, subsequently laid
private informationsagainst their assailants. Fourteen
of these women (38%) applied for a recognizance to keep the
peace in addition to the assault charge. Nine women charged
their martners during this time without calling the police,
and six charges of assault causing bodily harm were laid by
police.
After the female has laid a private information with •••••••••••
the justice of the peace, she must go to the police station
to have a constable record the facts of the assault and the
case history. These records reveal that almost all of the
women (88%) had been assaulted by their partner or ex-
partner prior to the current assault.
The average length of time between the date of the
offence and the final court disposition was 75 days. Table
3 shows the dispositions for the various types of assault
charges and applications for recognitances to keep the peace.
Ove= half of the charges were either .dis=issed or withdrawn.
Only three males were fined and three males received jail
co
TABLE 3
Court Disuritions for Various Types of Charges
• TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF CHARGE DISPOSITION DISPOSITIONS
POLICE LAID PRIVATE INFORMATIONS AS PERCENT- AGES OF ALL TYPES OF
Assault Assault Common Threatening Threatening CHARGES Causing Causing Assault (in addition Bodily Bodily to common Harm Harm assault
Dismissed
J. - 8 3 4 24%
Withdrawn 1 2 3 4 8 27%
Suspended Sentence 1 1 7 - - 14%
Conditional Dis- - - 2 - - 3% charge .
AbsolUte Discharge 1 _ 3 _ _ 5%
- Fine - -- 3 - - 5%
Jail 2 - 1 - - 5%
Entered Recognizance.
_ _ 8 1 14% to keep ihe pence
Warrant outstanding - - 1 - 1 3%
TOTAL 6 3 20 15 14 100%
sentences, none of which ex,- .1 30 days. Only 9 of te
males (31%) who were charged with threatening :ha ir paner,
entered -- cocn -", =ncas to k=,m the oe=c...
Additional information which was obtained from
police and court files can be found in Appendix F.
ma-t""i-=" _ au iuteview. .. thnc Sixty-two (29%) . e
-20-
• • • ̂ •:r^
..... ■ =
vio 1 === e ° 7 a'-out th= se-v 4 c=s th=v r=c=iv=
various agents cf the crimina 1 justice system, an attempt.
was made to contact a" of ••:-.e women who contacte the
police 'n the fi -st hale o= 1 979 retorting e l"" 41 V vic 1 =nce and
those who c ent to the =tic= ce th.= te="= tt I.v a ch.-c=.
An ampt was made -o 1 cc=t= the women betwe-=n Zecembe-
193C and April 1931 and the initial contact with :hi, femaL.ie
was mad , on the =='ethone. 1:h= -=search==
if she was williny to receive a lette: explaining the stu:2.y
and asking for her participation (see Appendix.G). Afte: :ha
female :ad received the lette:, a follow-up zelephc...a ca:1
was -=;= -^ e=t=--in= wh=the- cr not she wa= in
were interviewed, 11! 3 3%) could not be located, and the
• • • :amaininc 39 (In) we-= not interesz=e i “ n partic . pat....- ng•
- A3. cf the women who war= intevriewer.: _ad been invo-%*ec w_._
the pc.oe ""--"^"" ^e, ^= 1: ' -- Z C- -r;..
-•
re c l, c z
on = inz==w ez -n
ncne cf zhe assa_l:Ints was
r..na femaLes' pa= . cf
cn1y.
The r.=sults indicate that victims of wife assault
who seek assistance frcm the criminal justice system have
experienced an extensive history of abuse, long before they
call the police. Eighty-six percent cf the femalés indicated
that they had been assaulted an average of 35 times (range
is 0 to 312) before 1979, and thirty-eight females (61%) had been
assaulted an average of three times in the two years between
1979 and 1981.
Forty-two females (68%) indicated that their partners
had been drinking when they were assaulted in 1979 and
almost all of these women felt that alcohol was a contributing
factor to the violence. During the two years since 1979,
most of these males (82%) have been drinking the same amount
or more. Sixty-six percent of the females indicated that
their partners had some type of problem which led to the
abuse and which had gotten worse since 1979. The problems
identified included excessive alcohol consumption (26%),
emotional difficulties (45%), uncontrollable tempers (10%),
and psychiatric disorders (7%).
The females had an average of two close .friends
or relatives with whom they could discuss the abuse (mode
is 0). Most cf the women (77%) became involved with social
and community agencies as a result cf the physical abuse and
other problems in the relationship. The children were involved
with outside agencies in 33% of the cases and family doctors
--A.- -c feee vic ..cz expa- ••■ ••••••,
•■• •••••=. 17 • . -‘«e the i tc thC wcm.r1.
assault charge and twenzy-seven females (45%) tO La; an
cf fama.Les.
c' evsc==ai.f. tc C.'sccva- the
were asked if the situation shculd have :teen hand1= 4
diffe-ently. Thirty-eight females (51%) wanted the office:
felt that the c":c=-s d" nct -=smcnd fas- =ncu. ,-h -c the c=' 1 .
••• ••1 ••• 1
c= (/0)
* .z*
and 13 women (2:P1) want=d the mc"c= o ffice: 'cc -emova -h=
assailant frcm the premises.
A numer cf the interviewed wcmen suggeezed
that mcl'ce cf' 4 c=rs shculd adcot a d'"=-=n'• =t -t 4 d=
towards wife assau , cases. The wcmen := 1 - th.: mcl'c=
office: should try tc show more understanding cf the situaticn,
respect the rights cf the victim and women in general,
acknowledge the se----eness cf the assaults, and nct presume
--,.=-,= • --c
••••••■■=•••••....:**"'7-..-.
• office cf the • • c = . av
c:".a.rgaeae-7ainaz thai:aasaLlanza.
Mcs: cf fa:ca.:as' _ ,
a=a'r.sz ap:zears
zr, 1...a= a favc -.:-." . = cn
-23-
since sixteen women (62% of those proceeding to court)
reported that the court action contributed in reducing or
terminating the abuse.
Table 4 shows the percentage of females who were
satisfied or dissatisfied with the intervention they received
from various agents in the criminal justice system. Half
of the women were satisfied with the police intervention and
50% of the females coing to court were satisfied with the
response :rom the justice of the eace. Over half of these
respondents indicated that the justice of the peace did not
adequately explain what the charges meant or what they should
exmect in the courtroom. Only 31% of the females receiving
court intervention were satisfied with the Crown attorney's
response with 33% reporting that they received no support or
understanding from the Crown. Moreover, 67% of the victims
indicated that the Crown attorney did not spend enough time
with them in order for them to understand the situation and
be advised of the proceedings (see Table 15 for a complete
list of the females' recommendation).
Fifty-eight percent of the females who went through
the court process felt that the length of time between the
abusive incident and the final court disposition was too long
and 35% of these women were wo-- 4 ..A about being assaulted by
the male during this time.
— 4 —
Table 4-
Percentage of interviewed Females Who Were Satisfied or
Dissatisfied with the Criminal Justice System Intervention*
Criminal Justice Satisfied Dissatisfied System Agent (%) (%)
Family Consultants 65 27 (n=29)
Police** (n=62) 52 48
Justice of the Peace 50 35 (n=26)
Crown Attorney(n=26) 31 50
.--*Where the responses to a particular agency do not add up to 100%, the remainder indicated no feelings in either direction.
**In addition, all of the females who laid charges were very satisfied with the police constable who prepared the Crown's brief.
-25-
Particular case histories recorder: from the
interviews with the females were selected to illustrate the
circumstances surrounding the abusiveness, the history of
the couple's relationshim, and the general pattern of
response from criminal justice and other community service
systems (see Appendix 1). Zt should be noted that these
histories reflect the perspectives of the abused females
only. The interviewer recorded the alleged events as they
• were reported and made few attempts to validate the accounts.
Most of the case histories reveal a large number of serious
assaults and extreme forms of threatening behaviour,
many of which may have ended in the female's death had she
not left her partner. : Furthermore, the histories illustrate
the numerous opportunities for agencies to intervene more
effectively in these cases and the females' increasing
frustration with these attempts.
Additional information that was recorded in the
interviews with the abused women is presented in Appendix
J.
used bv the male was at least as sericus kicking, biting, or s
4.L.1= ==r9.mle, Twenty-one .percent (61) Of
-2E-
e--=
.n' 'nt=rviews with victims of w 4 == =': 'nd'cate
that wc==r. who .-= 'n contact w 4 th zh= oclice are experiencing
sericus assaults. so% cf the cases, the ty-pe of viclence
•••• •
the victims received injuries that were v 4 e."Clas col 4 ce and
were ■=r•.«-2=A y the c==4co ■•. OnlV 7% o e -h= = 11 =o=d'v =ssaulted
wcm=n w=-= advised t: ■ = e: 4 ■ =7 ■ ■ --=------• .-= -he SeriZU2-
ness cf many cf these assaults, hcwever, the police force does
not encourage officers to act decisively, sucs that charges were
Laid in Only 3% of the cases. bver 60% of the wcmen wanted the
po 7 ice to cha-g= the male but most women who call the police ara
4 neormed that if th=v w.nt further action w 4 ":'n the cr'r... 4 na/
justice system, they must pursue it themselves.
The result of enccuraging victims of violent
cr.nes, ■ ■ . . who are a==.. .nms,
tn= 4- own wav zh -cu.th tn= como'=x 4 t 4 == c= th= crlminal justice
system is that cniv 17% cf abused wcmen whc call the pc1:.:e
- -cc==' to ■ = 1 .• .1 4 = ••• e • ••• ••• •• • r.
,e wcmen ■■■■■ •:,. ■ ■■ .■■■■ ■■■■ the
..= ee Z.' thems=ives, :hat the viclehoe has
terminated, cr :hat the wcman must ha ,:e provoked the viblence
and, the: -a, it. The -==--= cf the inter... ==-
-27-
led to another. conr.lusicr. -the negative attitudes cf many
criminal justice acents serve to inform the victim that she
does not have a right to proceed to court and when she
does, she will receive minimal support from court'officials.
In light of these attitudes and the fact that manv of the women
are still being threatened by the assailant, it is not
surprising that some abused women return to the situation or
want the charges withdrawn.
The dispositions of the cases that do proceed to
court reveal that most charges against males who assault
their partners or ex-partners, are either dismissed or withdrawn.
Even when there is a finding of guilt, it is very unlikely that
the assailant will be fined or sent to jail. it should be
noted that the rate of withdrawn charges in London, Ontario,
is still much lower than the 75% or higher reported in other
communities (e.g. Hogarth, 1978). Despite this indication
that the court is not willing to take these cases very
seriously, ove: 60% of the victims who were interviewed,
reported that going to court had a positive effect on the
level of violence.
The profile of the assailant is a male who has
a drinking problem and who often engages in violence when
drunk. He often has had extensive involvement with police
beats h's pa-tnr frequently, .and, according to the .f.males,
is in ned cf psvchologioal and emotional counselling.
-28-
The victims have received numerous beatings, do not have a
good support system of fr 4 ends and fam'l'=, and have turned
to manv sources in the community for help. The psychological
effects of the violence for many women has been devastating.
It is important to remember that abused women who
look for help in the community, have been assaulted frequently
and are among the few victims who find the courage to involve
outside agencies. The last thing that these women need is
a negative response from community professionals; instead,
they require support and underetanding.
-29-
3.
Th results c' the--===n-study and o-h=- "-=-.-u-=
in the field, sugoest that not enough is being dore for 7iCZiMS
and assailants cf family violence. Oneof the consequences
is that many abused women who look for help return to an
abusive situation without any hope of escaping the violence.
Even these women are among the very small percentage of
victiMs who will identify themselves. Assailants are rarely
convinced that they are doing something wrong and, instead,
are left to continue the serious assaults on their partners.
In the following recommendations, the police
as well as other criminal justice agents are being asked to
treat violence between family members no differently than
violence between strangers and to lay charges against males
whocommit criminal acts of assault. New services are
recommended to guide the victims through the cdurt process
and provide treatment for assailants. Allhuman service
ssionals are asked to better co-ordinate their efforts
on behalf cf victims of family violence and become increas'ngly
responsive and knowledgeable about the trauma and issues
involved. All of the recommended changes and services seem
c-r7van'-v o'nat '3 c-r-r'zt-' cc clav'n ,-
.n activa rcl= 'n prevnt'ng a pattern cf violent ^-.h.v'c/%r
in e -;,:
-30-
• • • ! :re ■•••• • • •-• •••••• • •-• •••••
the ma=t, pc , '-= • nze. throughout
Nc-th b="e.n =mr zh='r 'nade- ,-u=t=
procedures and pccr attitudes in responding to wife assault
calls. While most victima want the mclice to provide
protection for them bv removing the male or laying charges,
most officers merely separate the couple for a few minutes
and leave when the violence ceases:
lie (the officer) believes that his job is to quiet things down and leave to avoid makng an ====st, "a k==ir, zh= ma""..=- unreported, and to settle the problem without resorting to criminal charges, the court, or lawyers (Langley a Levy, 1979, p.175).
Many of the police ofe'^= ."s who respond to domestic
violence calls have not acquired the skills necessary for
dealing with these cases effectively. Loving (1980)
reports that the officers themselves "expressed a need for
clearer policy direction and relevant training programs for
handling these calls" (p. 32).
Even when the o .Fficer -e=1 4 zes that tol'oe 'nz="vent'on
is not sufficient in a particular case, he still must have
adequate diagnostic skills to make such a decision and must
know what social services are ava 41 =" 1,= in the community.
:n th.› mreeenz study. , 't was apparent chat these =k"1=
=== 'mmorz=nz 'o- the -"' ,"="s z- cons":=- 4 nm the.-
-31-
only one-,-- , =-11=- oe al l f ailv Ço 1 =nc= -="s w=-= -=e=--=A
to the police crisis workers who ara traininc in making
t:-=me -=== --="s t^ -ormun' -y =c=no'=s.
unfamiliarity with community agencies 'm -=''=cted by the
fact that only 5% of the victims were referred, by the
officer, to the emergency shelter for battered women.
The need for police officers to adopt a dnt
approach toward wife abuse is supported by many of the victims
interviewed in this study. The prevailing attitudes which
are detrimental to the abused women include •ot
the need to offer her support and understanding, and
presupposing that an assault on a woman is not important
and that she probably mrovoked it. Many of the victims interviewed
in this study felt that the assailant received more support
from the o ,.s than the victim.
Another belief which is held by some officers
is that violence is a normal male response when women behave
insubordinately (Potter, 1978). All of these misconceptions
about wife assault contribute to the officer's failure to
view wife assault as a criminal act; consecuently, assault
charges are often not laid bv the officer. :n addition,
Emerson ( 1 979) reports tha- amorox'ma-=lv half o= ="
s nc: ; nvc 1 7„.7. Jr. thi s typ,, c=ce:
zhv :.:me-'=nce no ?e-son. 4 n wife
abuse -." =. ne.= =-- zn. s .
chanceto • • _ .c:en w-- -"-- •to
-32-
police =o-
:mmrcv=mnzs 'n th= r=emcn=e tc abused
wcmen shcu:d inc'ude ,-txt=n="7.. r..cru't and in-service
which focuses on the nature and extent of domestic violence,
the risk of escalating violence, and the officer's respon-
sibility in separating the couple, making ree..-. 1 s, and laying
charges (Dutton, 1980; Loving, 1580; Martin, 1976). As
the criminal justice system's front-line workers, police
officers have the responsibility cf informing batts
that society does not condone violence.
The current police policies in most cities dictate
an avoidance of arrest and minimal intervention in wife abuse
calls (Loving, 1980). Furthermore, many police departments
do not view wife beating calls as "police work" (Loving,
1980); instead, they see them as civil matters or as cases
requiring social service intervention only. Straus et al.
(1980) state that "the no-arrest guideline probably is more
closely followed than any other in the training manual because
it so clearly fits the experience and values of the police.
(p.44).
Although police policy the investigating
officer's ability to charge or arrest to a large extent, it
should be noted that the officer's attitude plavs an im.pertant
role 'n th=. ormcss. :n etroit, 'ch'an,
=0.• exoe, renedial 1 --tc."s 1 = - 'on was massed to allow
'emale hee nowhe-e
, .
-C ° '°°V° nm n--- - nn - = = m
-33-
misdemeanor assault cases. Even though the
primary turpose c' the leg'slat'on wae - emove 'mpe ,4, ments
the cs decision to arrest, the arrest rate actually
decreased after the legislation was passed (Buzawe, 1981).
One recommendation for improving police intervention
is to have officers conduct some type of follow-up with the
victim and assailant, especially in cases where the assailant
was not interviewed by police following the assault. This
recontact with the family would help to reinforce the seriousness
and unaccemze^v cf such behaviour to the male (es-lly
since 29% of the males in this study were no t even interviewed
by the officer), and ensure that the female is in no immediate
danger for having called the police. Other researchers
support the development of this type of police intervention
(Hogath, 1979; Loving, 1980).
One other police procedure which needs to be examined
is the practice of separating the couple following an
attack. If the couple is separated for the night (which is
un1 4 ke1y), it 4 s usua • ly the female who is asked to leave
and stav somewhere else. This often involves waking young
ch".4 -en end ''nd 4 nc e motel, relative or "rien' who 's
nn
• - • . . .. Mcst wc==.n
leave the c'c=hs back and nc . -e • --e
the me 7 . , s hct -emoved 's ne usua:ly cwns cr cents
-34-
the d .-=nnot "-e h's h-me -nl==
= ---=sr="4 . The same s cc ol=l=s who =s=a-ulz th='-
:It or =x-o= --n=-s W:1Z CWnS o- rents
the dwelling. Over two-thirds cf the victims in 1::his study
wanted the males removed and/or arrested.
there is a need for police throughout Canada
to examine more closely their re-sponse to family violence
and their respcnsihilitv in .preventing more serious crime.
Heckler & Gauld (1981) report domestic disputes were
responsible for 30% of all homicides in Ontario, 25% of
British Columbia homicides, and 48% of hcmicides ccmmited
in the Prairies. The authors suggest that many criminals
are produced ir 'amilies where violence is common and that
mare attention shculd be paid to violence-producing situations
in families. This strategy would not cnly serve
to reduce the number cf sericus crimes (e.g. murder, rape)
but would also interrupt the patterns of family violence.
(ii) Victim Advccacy Service
While scme victims ce family violence mav ca// in
the police after a number of assaults,these cases -=:---=sent
a small proportion cf the women who are being assaulted
in the:: cwn hcmes (see Appendix K for a review of the needs
of "-ett=-=d wcmen). 7=w o 4 the cases chat a-= remcrted to
police m--o==,-.7 to cou-t: the mr==en: study 'nd'ost=s chat
cr.lv 1 7% cf a 11 partner assau't and threatening calls -=,-='ved
-25-
by mclic. r.su"-ed ch.--.s be'ng laid. :n to
en=u-e fLl c -'m'ha' svst=r 'nvolvem.nt 'n 'am'
violenc e , se-74 -e= z- be =str-^l'shed w4 "
the Crown attorney's orocessing charges; as well
as assist the victims in cases where officers have laid
assault charges. Furthermore, women who lay charges against
their partners usually need more support that victims
of other crimes, if they are to proceed with the charges.
The following factors are characteristic of most abused women
and serve to deter them from calling the police, from going
to court.or result in charges being withdrawn:
1. abused women are emotionally and legally attach..d tb their assailants;
2. they are usually economically dependent on their assailants;
3. their assailant is often the father of their children (85% of the interviewed females had at least one child from the relationship).
4. the victim may still be living with her assailant (86% cf the females who called the police were living with their assailant);
5. abused wcmen have no perscnal systems (the average numb.r c' close contacts "^r zhes= "=ma'.s was two);
6. .s a -=sul- cf numerczs beabincs, abused wcmen ha -7e little s.e. 1 '-con'"4 =nce and ma v and
'n -h= wcm.n n.v= e negative
-36-
respcnsa frcm both the •criminal "ustice s-...sr.m= -^=
sasfed w'th -h= 4 nz.-7=nt' ,-n th= zh=
.hd p=
ctims were
.szice :2f while half cf
In =dd 4 t 4 ch, the v 4 ct'r= cf f ai.Y v4 0 1. =nc= .r=
required tc tackle the criminal listice system alcne, unlie
other victims of crime, because the morce fail tc Vied
these assaults as criminal matters. As a result, the woman
feels helpless, is ill-prepared in the courtroom, and receives
no legal advice (Hogarth, 1973).
There are a number cf services which an advocacy
system should offer to victims cf family violence who have
laid private charges or who will be witnesses to the police
officer's charges. These functions include the following:
4 contact females who have called the police reporting family violence;
inform the complainant about wife abuse, the legal prccess, her legal opticns, and possible court outccme;
refer the ccmplainant to medical treatment facilities, housing services, public assistance, legal aid, vocational prcgrams and other communitv resources;
iv. communicate with the prosecutor and ensure that the case is properly prepared (e.g., photograph e of injuries, witnesses, medical records);
V. communicate with the police department and keep them informed about the case;
provide cran -=-= wh=n tr,d ■■• • ■ and day .■ necessary to victims attending court; and
=c-cm-anv Lande ‘'o court .
(Zutton, 1980; 1=':=- .; Walsh, 1379; :ermen, 1:331.; Wayne, 1979).
-37-
;-...otn== s=--vc= wn'cn some =bus="=m.'.s m=y
request at this time is counsellinc about tne abuse, her
=mom'cnal 'utur= goals and 4 =c's'cn-mak'nc.
:n fact, 39% of the victims interviewed in the present study
indicated tnat they needed some vv .-be of sumportive counsellinc.
Most abused women are not aware of the resources in the
community which can respond to their needs. For example,
only 35% of the victims interviewed were aware of the local
shelter for abused females. While some advocate programs
offer this type of intervention and information service,
most programs associated with the zolice and prosecutor's
office refer the females to other counselling acencies in
the community.
A number of victim advocate programs have been
established in the United States and Table 5 lists a f=w
of these services. Most of the programs are located in
the prosecutor's office, receiving referrals from police,
prosecutors, hostitals and other community agencies. These
agencies handle a large volume of clients and are successful
in increasing the number of assault charges being processed,
.s -4,. 11 as 'hcr=as:hc the conviction rate for tne.= case.
Process'ng cr'm, n=1 charges .-='n=z abusers n.s
the of the amcun: c' vic.ence 'n
=o- exant.e, -ne abus ed w,m.n interviewed in the z-u=r
NAME AND ADDRI- SS or PROGRAM
Battered Women's Project Seattle, Washington
-35% of cases prosecution -91% convicted
926 cases prosecuted
Table 5
rive American Victim Advocate Services for Abused Women
LOCATION
City attorney's . office
NUMBER OF CLIENTS SEEN IN 1980
1.200
REFERRAL SOURCES
-contact all women calling police to report family violence .
PROM:01110N AND CONVICTION RAlES
678 cases prosece?
57% convicted
1,108 Pinta County Victim Witness Program Tuscon, Ari7ona
County attorney's office
law enforcement-56% County attorney-23% Other sources - 21%
Victim's Informalion Bureau of Suffolk Inc. Smithtown, New York
Westchest County District Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit
Counselling centre
County attorney's office
hotline-2300 office-230
most cases self-referred -other referrals from police and attorney
1400 police
-police -hospitals -social service agencies
Women Against Abuse Domestic Abuse Clinic Philadelphia, Pennslyvania
District attorney's office
3041
-39-
v--_---- was reduced cr rr..nazed =z
result of -curt interven-'on 'n 62' ,= _ne cas es.
addition, S'=h ( 192 1 ) sa=s that court action se-v=s to
educate not only the abuser, but the criminal .:,.u.s'!ice agents
as wt= 1, :
The proceeding often has a sobering upon the offender, shows the defense attorney that the prosecution is serious, educates the court and provides a transcrit for the preservation of the testimony (Sieh, 1981).
(iii) Treatment for Assailants
hi le the victims and their children must be given priority in support services, prevention of domestic violence requires treating the offender (Ganley & Harris, 1978, p.1).
In the past, a considerable amount of literature
has concentrated on the victims of family violence, investigating
their responsibility in provoking the attacks and the
reasons whv they stay or refuse to press charges. Very
little attention has been focused on the perpetrator, largely
because abusers are unwilling to admit to their behaviour
and,consecuentiv, unwilling to seek help. Loving (1980)
concludes that "the most direct way to reduce the problem
would be to alter the behaviour cf men who are motivated
to beat women"(p.21).
The .buse ,1 feraes who were interviewe ,' 'n th'm
study the need for providing therapy for their
partners. One-half of the victims felt that their partners
sce -vm.= ce -cunse"'nc and 5 ,1";% indicated zhaz thee
males ce cbem wh'-h 1 .,=d cc zh ,-- abuse nd
wh'ch had goztr. wcrse 137 9 . .1 mcng the mrcblems
cited were excessive alcchol consumpticn, emoticna:1 difficulties,
uncontrollable temers, and psychiatric disorders.
As a result of recent attempts t2 identify the
wiee abuser, a number of American researchers (Boyd, 1977;
Egley, 1981; Everett & Checker, 1980; Fleming, 1979; Ganley
& Barri, 1973; Geller, 1973; Walker, 1 979; Wetzel, 1980)
have developed profiles of the abuser. The following
list contains the mcst commonly ident'e'd characteristics
of the batterer: •
- explosive tamper;
- extremely dependent on his victim;
- blames victim and others for his actions;
- attempts to isolate female frcm others;
- extreme jealousy
- adherence to traditicnal sterectypes;
- low self-esteem;
- denial of the violent acts;
- minimizing the sericusness cf the assaults;
- manipulative with others;
- withdraws frcm close intscnal ccntact
- abused as a child;
- alcchcl and/or drug dependence; and
- a refusal to seek helm.
One o f the mcsr- characteristic cf the
abusi;e male 's h's unw"l'ncns= cc admit -c h's v'c'=nc;
-41-
'n=z==d, h= bl=m.=s ot"- .1=rs (-sua"v the v'e -i'r) fer h's
preblems. Abusers that seek hale, de sc in an attempt te
convince their partners te stay or cerne back, but this
source of motivation is only temporary, especially if the
female later agrees te return to the relationshie (Egley,
1981). Senna (1981) reports that "in his (the abuser's)
mind, he= leaving him has caused the depression and so
all he has to do is 'get her back', and the problem will
be solved" (p. 6).
it appears, therefore, that the most effective
way to ensure that the male receives treatment is through
court-ordered treatment (Dutton, 1980; Frederiksen et al.,
1981; Loving, 1980). In the United States, assailants who
involuntarily attend counselling are ordered to attend
either in lieu of prosecution or as a condition of probation;
however, we feel that counselling should not replace prosecution
but should complement it, since there must be an admission of
guilt before the abuser will proceed to take responsibility
for his own life and make the required changes (Dutton,
1 989; Everett & Checker, 1930). Furthermore, since the
males are most susceptible to treatment during the crisis
eeriod immediatelv follow'ng the assault (Everett &
1 9 80; 7 =i-man, 1 93 1 ), 41- 's r=cemmend=d that the eol'c=
officer :el' the mal= about any av="='-i= counsellino
trencr=m= 'n 1- 14.= co=m-n'-y.
-42-
ce: issue 'n ccunsell'ng assailant= is the
type cf int=*.v=ntin used. - bout , = cr grt-t.
Although some men may bnlv e ot'vated bv the hoc=
reconciliation w'th the victim, familv counsel"ng is not
recommended as a primary mode of intervention because the'
violence is not a funczion cf the quality cf the relationship
(Ganley & arris, 1978; La Violette, 1981; Purdy. Nickle,
1982). Furthermore, when family therapy is used the violence
is usually nct terminated (Egley, 1981; Lerman, 1981),
and relationship and communications issues distract from the
primary goal of stopping the violence (Egl=y, 1981).
addition, when family counselling is used the victim is
implicated as being at least partially responsible for the
abuse she receives.
A number cf counselling programs for batterers
have been established in the United States over the past
five years. Table 6 contains a list of American programs
where information was available on such variables as type
of counselling, type of number of clients, and
intervention strategies and evaluation techniques used.
Almost all cf the programs offer groun counselling with
the philosophy being that if the male can share his experience
with cthe*. s in the same sit-. - if-n and re ,-=i7= subto--i =tcr
his group peers, he will be less defensive and more wi"ing
to accent. change. Ove: h='= c= the orcgr -,..ms a'=c
individual counselling in addition to group therapy, and
F.4
name and Address of Program
Alternatives to Aggression Madison, Wisconsin
Alternatives to Violence
tongheach, California
Beacon Clinic 6teenfield, Mass. ------------- --- Domestic Assault Program lacoma, Washington
Domestic Intervention Pr. Miami, Florida
F.MIR6f Boston, Mass.
-- —
Family Services of Duluth
Croup Services for flatterer Montgomery Coi mut
House of Ruth
Pa 1 t !more , flat y I and
Men's Resource Centre Portland, Oregon
Page Behavior Program Ohio
- .
Spouse Assault Crisis Centre
Muskegon, Michigan ------------- ----- RESOLVE Fayettville, N.C.
Shelter-Based Counselling
YMCA Domestic Crisis Centre Michigan
Siales Ailitudes Toward Women Brun Sm A-Role Identity
Si al es • flet k Depress ion - -locus of Control
r 9. ! 'ewe !, one year
follow 7 op- 1 months
Stales locus of Control _ -Assertiveness -Multiple Affect
ladministored berme ar.1 after gnome)
-82% effective for all levels of violence
follow-un- 6 months Prfective
group better than Ind.
-75%- 80% effective
type of Counselling. Type of Re ferrai number of Length of Counselling Techniques and Areas of ----- foiirt- Clients Treatment Concern
Group Ind. Couple Voluntary ' ' Orde •
• • A 12 10-12 -assertiveness training, anger diary. (75%) (25%) sessions relaxation, cognitions
Open lts -relaxation. assertiveness, * • * years alternate beh., Identify feelings
A A * a -anger control, alternate behs.,
tcao:::: 511::: I lis it ir ie ts: rs ok rit: Inns 4 weeks -assertiveness. physical exercise.
* * a (residents) - vocational training
A A 196 3-6 mils.
-behavior modification. conflict A A Open 4
6 mths. resolution, relaxation. commui-
years Ication skills
M A A A -ego dynamics, violence as child
-conflict skills, social skills.
* * ) en/ 0 sessions p"blem salving m proup
0 * • * wen 2 3-6 mths.
years
-anger control. relaxation, A a 30 physical exercise, alternate
behaviors
-self-care. relaxation. 0 12 weeks alternative behaviors
a a * * 104 -alternative behaviors
-contracts, anger control. a * * 78 emotional awareness. "mull-
cation', stereotynic behaviors
* A * -anger cues. assertiveness, ' (101) (70i 8 weeks ) 110 relaxation , time-out cuntrol
* * * a 8 weeks -contracts, social skills
Ivaluation
follow-uR 7-5 years «ciales-i.onflict lactic
American Counselling Programs for Hale flatterers .
-44-
sassicns araalsc cond ...:cced in cases wnare clients
p : cs cr e-- w .. -r.c mc „ r -
. . - --= in- =ns - v= c-cm zne.
conduct couple counsellinc and, in most cases, th.is counselling
is jointly sponsored by a support service for the victim
(e.g., transition home, advocacy service).
The primary goal of the American counselling groups
for assailants is the termination of violence. These males
are also encouraged to engage in more positive activities,
take respo ay for their own behaviour, adopt more
acceptable channels of displaying aggression and reacting to
stress, and develop a better understanding of their own
emotions. Some of the techniques used .ost àften to accomplish
these goals are assertiveness training, monitoring feelings
of anger, relaxation exercises, physical activity, social
skill training, and alternate-behaviour learning.
In order to define the abuser and the problem of
violence against women in terms which are meaningful for
intervention strategies, each agency must make certain
assumptions concerning this issue. Fol'cwing is a list
of the most common assumptions about family violence made
bv service providers:
(a) the male is solely responsible for his own '.-=‘hev 4 - , 'r;
(b) until the male takes responsi^ 4 " -y for his own behaviour, the violence will continue;
-45-
(o) violence is a learned behaviour;
(d) violence is a socially condoned method of achieving male dominance and controlling females;
(e) most males are no t in touch with z4eir own emotions; and
(f) abusive males fear intimacy and maintain distance and control in interpersonal relationships.
There is an obvious lack of systematic evaluation
of assailant therapy programs; however, when evaluations
are conducted, they indicate the programs are very effective
(59% to 82%) in terminating the violence. Much of the
effectiveness data cornes from self-reports of the victim
and/or the assailant as well as follow-up studies of three
months to five years. A few prograMs have used standardized
tests such as the Conflict Tactics Scales and Locus of
Control, to assess the degree of behavioural and attitudinal
change.
There is a great need for intensive evaluation of
programs dealing with batterers and future research studies
should investigate the most ye type cf referral (voluntary
or court-ordered) as well as the most appropriate time cf
intervention (a.g., during crisis). Furthermore, a more
=Dcs.ct measure c= behav 4 oura" and att 4 tud'nal chance 'n the
abusers must be made in order to gain a clearer understanding
of the batmerers'personalitv, tive mebncds cf
croup prbc‘=es, and the '="caz'ons =-= the v'cb'm returninc
to the assa'lanz. F'ne"y, beseabchebs must develcp more
-46-
cf me.=su-'ng the
v) educ=t'ng P-m=ssicnais
Women who experience domestic violence recognize
their need for outside assistance and often contact other
agenciee besides the police. In the present study, 71%
cf the interviewed femal.=s had e-tended at least one agency
in the ccmmunity for help; thirty-cne percent went to their
family doctor, 86% sought psychiatric or psycholcgical
treatment and 27% received some other fo rm of counselling.
Thirty-nine percent of these females felt that the" needed
some type of counselling during the pericd of violence and
11% felt that their children needed to talk to a ccunsellor.
A literaturereview cf the traditional respcnses
of the medical, mental health, social service, and criminal
justice systems to abused wcmen reveals that these intervention
attempts are not always appropriate. There are four basic
similarities in service inadequacies amchg the varicus
ccmmunity systems:
(a) a limited awa:eness or an avcidance cf the issues surrcundng ===. 4 ' ,7 v 4 c 1 =P-c=;
(b) suee treatment of (e.g., :;udicial leniency, administration o' drugs);
-47-
a t.nd‘=ncv to ^lame the victim for crovoking the violence; and
a lited nr.ber o= == e e'—'-=1 3 acenc'..s lectinc = 1 =^k c= co-ordination between and within the criminal ju=tic.., medical, mental health, and social service systems.
These four inadequacies involve the systems'
philosophies and how they perceive their roles in handling
family violence.
Tn addition to these problems, there are a number
cf procedural changes which need to be made in order to
properly assist the abused female. The importance of
responding appropriately to abused women is expressed by
King (1981):
The damage done to a battered woman's self-esteem and self-reliance by experiencing repeated acts of violence is increased when social health, mental health, and criminal justice institutions respond inadequately to her recuests for help (p. 4).
Since crofessionals from the various community
service systems are experiencing difficulty in responding
appropriately in cases of family violence, it is imperative
that they become more informed about the issue and more
(.4 \
w4.114 no to d...1 ?eccmendaticns for ' -m -ov 4 nc
4-he". -=cone.- e 4 nclud. "s - =n'ng 4- 0 the 4.7 4 --"m
treating the abuse .= mo-e than a secondary svmptcm, and
becoming more knowledgeable about ccmmun'tv -.mc.--c== that
can int.-yen., more ef=4..t 4 v ,=ly (se., Acm=nd'x for
-48-
-=y 4 =w c' methods for immrcving response).
determine what commun'ty mrcf=ss'mnals need in order 7..t
improve their intervention, a ;ueszi.cr.naira coula
distributed to members of the various service 5v ans,
including psychiatrises, psychologists, doctors, nurses,
counsellors, social workers, and clergy members (see
Appendix M).
Another method of providing information to
professionals is through conferences and workshops, where
participants can gain insight from research in the field,
as well as share their concerns with other practitioners.
Conferences should emphasize the need for community
systems to co-ordinate with each other in order to
adequately provide . for all the victim's needs.
(a) Co-ordination of uman Services -
The need for the various human service systems
to share information and expertise, as well as make referrals
to each other, is apparent from the preceding discussion.
Zn addition to establishing a communication and ral
system with the criminal justice system, there is a pressing
ne4td for oth- egnci=s to dvelop 'ntrasyt=m and 'nt=rsvstm
-Although the present report has focused on the ,'‘==monse o' the c-'min=' . usz'o= svez=m,' it is obvious that progress in this field is equally dependant on close cc-operazion among tha% mer.“-= 1 , nta' h=lth, and social service systems.
4
-49-
• ( Bass er. = r.p '1 =7Q)
.6 •
r For •••••••••,,1 p r,
ha s been recommended that social workers get input from
other community groups that entounter violence (Star, .1930)
and that mental health practitioners consult with other
clinicians and agencies (King, 1981).
- A more integrated network of communication would
help not only the victims but would also serve to educate
the agents and relieve their sense of isolation which can
cause them to become frustrated when intervening in family
violence. :>ccording to Dutton (1930), educating service
providers about the issue of wife abuse should be the primary
goal of the agencies:
Regardless of whatever structural changes, policy changes and outcome options occur, it is most important the educative attitude- change programs be established for professionals working with wife assault cases (p. 92).
There are no 'miraculous' solutions for changing
the pattern of violence in families; instead, progress in
intervention strategies will be dependent on an increased
awareness of the issues involved, as well as a commitment
for providing a coherent and co-ordinated response. Systems
that have avoided the problem or = 4 ned it as being
need -0 redirect ■ ^=4^ attention
.n integrated solution to violence in the
someone else's restonsin _ , _
ere.:7 , 1v.
-50-
4. Ore 7:=NCS ON (—MMUN---e
The m-bb'.am 'n zn's r=ccrt , s now can
a communitv become more responsive and effective in dealing
with wife abuse cases? uring the earlv stages of the research
study, it ecame =parent from ^*- 1 'minary results, observations
and literature reviews that community professions who come in
contact with victims and assailants in wife abuse, are often
reluctant to even identify wife abuse cases, let alone provide
some type of effective intervention.
In London,Cntario, an attempt was made to co-ordinate
these various human service systems and increase their
awareness of the issue by providing them with a forum for
discussing wife assault issues, collecting research information
on the community professionals' response to the problem and
providing them with relevant literature on other attempts
made in North America to address the problem. Community
members representing the criminal justice system, social service
systems, and other local croups established the London Co-
ordinating Committee on Family Violence, to discuss the problems
and issues related to intervening in wife assault cases
and to ocer='"on. 1 ' , ., :-..commendat'ons e0r commun'tv changes.
A r esearch mars= was also added to the commi=t= for th
purpose of providing information on the extent cf the prcblem,
'n'o-m'ng the r., r^e-s cf cu-rent -= ,==.-ch findings, and to
-51-
rescond to any needs for data identified by the various
committee mbers.
Before the committee was even formed, a,number
cf assumptions had to be made about the most amprocriate
response to wife assault, methods of e-ing community
change, and the relationship between research goals and
community efforts In the present report, an emphasis was
placed on the criminal justice system's responsibility in
responding to these cases but it is important to note that
progress in this field is also demendent on appropriate
responses frein the medical, mental health, and social service
systems. Furthermore, co-ordination between all human service
systems is essential to ensuring that all of the victim's and
assailant's needs are met by the community.
Working Assumptions
a) Communities change in much the se way that
individuals change. Behavioural science suggests that individuals
chance their behaviour through feedback, education, and
social reinforcement or support for new patterns of action.
The feedback within the zresent context is provided through
data on the criminal justice resmonse to wife abuse as well
a= v'ot'ms' =cco-nts c= o=n be
- .-rouch = r=v 4 .-- w c= the l'==ratu-= wh'ch
out"ns ='=.",== =x-er'=nc ,== and rocr=m= •=lsewhr=. Rei.. "
1 .
can be mrcv" ,4 thrturh grcum supper.: within a comm'zzee,
tes":»v= r=r.ecn 4 m'cn thr-uch '-eccm 4 ng awar cf a
serious sccia' treble:: sic h as wife ahuse, and endeaveurs
to chance traonal human services responses.
b) One important step in community change
is the identification of key agents and agencies within the
community. These agents must be brought tcgether in an action-
oriented committee setting which reflects leadership skills,
interest'and enthusiasm for change in the area, resources
for implementing change, mediators to balance polarized views,
and advocates on behalf of the victims of wife assault.
It was assumed that the initial selection of the committee
members has to be somewhat arbitrary and that a natural
prccess over tire would develop the most appropriate working
committee.
c) It was assied that the criminal justice
system was the primary ystem to respond to wife assault and
the ystem whose response needed the most improvement. This
view implies that wife assault is a criminal offence and not
simply a private familv matter sutable for civil act'en.
was also assumed that the criminal justice system is a majcr
initiate= cf sccial change.
The c-4-2 4 nal 4 ust 4 c.s svssz c=nnc -'- e^t 'n
'sc'at'en when trying 7.c. change ccmmunity respcnses tc wife
-51-
assau't.. The effectiveness of the criminal justice system
is demendent on the response cf other human services such as
the medical, mental health, educational, and social service
systems. Services cannot exist in a vacuum or redfine a •
problem as someone else's responsibility. We assumed that
a major roadblock in effective community resmonse to wife
assault was the tendency for the criminal justice system
to divert and define family violence as more appropriate for
other human service delivery systems. At the same time,
these other systems viewed the problem in the same way
and awaited a response from the criminal justice system.
We assumed that there existed a major communication gap
between the different community agencies that dealt with
wife assault.
e) :t was assumed that research could have an
impact on community change if it was formative in nature.
Formative implies that the research is designed, analysed
and reported bv the committee in such a way as to promote
change and procram. development. The researchers were
viewed as being integral parts of the committee rather '-han
external agents. It was assumed that the research and the
committee process were partners in an ongoing interactive
cattrn C e idea formation and su--eecu=n7.
f) :t was .n=S -7:°"" that kncw 1 .= ,4 == c = =xm<z-'.=nc
e2.sewhece 'n crth Am-'ca was necessa=v bu: no: s-=='-'.=r17.
-54-
fr chance. Az some 1 ..ve's, CU7 .=summt 4 on wa= -h.: .
'co. co=mitz.e must have f'rszhand excerience on the
men: and =.‘come ce tne mr—b 7 -.171 'n ode- =o- '- to bem==n'nceul
cm them.
g) Integration and co-ordination are essential
components of the effective operation of the criminal justice
system. An effective criminal justice system response is
hindered by conflicting policies and procedures between the
various divisions of the system.
h) It was assumed that most agencies and human
service svstams need not undergo massive changes or seek
new funding in order to respond effectively to wife assault
cases. For example, if the criminal justice system was as
responsive to violence between family members as it is to
violence between strangers, a major accomplishment would
be realized.
2) The London Co-ordinating Committee on Family Violence
The London Co-ordinating Committee on Family
Violence was formed by a number cf community professionals,
partic-lm-ly criminal justice agents, who where interested
in providing becter services to bettered women. :!he members
include the London Police Force, Crown attorney, justices
cf the eace, troba'on and pa-ml= ^": ,-=-s, family lawyers,
the London Status cf Women Action Group, the Family Consultant
--
Service, family counsellcrs, social service agences, and the
staff of the shelter for battered women.
During the first meeting, the committee .members
outlined the goals of the committee and decided =hat although
they were interested in investigating all types of family
violence, the initial focus would be placed on wife assault.
For the purposes of the committee, wife assault was defined
as "any form of physical assault or threat against a female
by her male partner or ex-martner". The definition was
not restricted to 'legally' married spouses. Following is
a list of some of the issues identified uring the initial
series of committee meetings:
(a) there is a need to co-ordinate all of the service systems responding to assaulted females;
(b) all divisions of the criminal justice system need to be co-ordinated with one another;
(c) the possibility of police laying more assault charges should be investigated;
(d) an attempt should be made to reduce the number of withdrawn charges;
(e) clear guidelines about which court should hear these cases (Family or Criminal) should be sec out;
(') =n =xamnat'cn cf '".=, e iveness c' bcth criminal and civil proceedings should be made;
(c) -^. c= hiring .n = —" ,- "ntstudent ' -on cc acC as Crown for chese matzers snculd be examined;
-56-
:h) ecszenz rcs :c - court orde-s and --= ,..00n'-ancesn== ,4 to b= axa ined and c
(i) the lack cf pr-+-= ,--ion for women pending trial should be investigated; and
(j) methods of increasing the involvement of mental health and social service professionals in these cases should be explored.
The committee representative from Adult Probation
and Parole was very interested in establishing a therapy
group for assailants through the Ministry of Corrections.
This member took it upon himself to investigate the possibility
of establishing this service and received from the committee's
research person a considerable amount of literature an existing
assailant services in the United States. The committee
discussed the various aspects of a treatment group such as
when treatment would be initiated (e.g. immediately following
an assault or following court sentencing), whether the service
will be voluntary or mandatory, and who will be making
rals to the group (e.g., police, Family Consultants,
judges, etc.). A proposal for the assailant treatment group
was submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Corrections outlining
the goals cf the program and the details or operation.
At the same time the assailant therapy orogram
was being discussed, the committee's representative from the
London Police Fore- c. 'n'ormed "1= committee th=t os
were being 'nstruct=d to lay common assault oharo=s 'n c==e=
of wife assault when they had reasonable and probably grounds
-57-
to :bel'eyc= zh=t the cffence occurred (see Appendix N ). :n
add't'cn, the directive 'ndicated that these charges would
be n.=ard 'n F=m:ly Court only when the assailant and v'mtim
were living together; ail other cases were tc go to Criminal
Court, including all wounding charges.
Another change in the London Police Force
policy involved the preparation of a Victim Information Card
which had been endorsed earlier by the committee. This card,
which was handed to victims by investigating officers starting
July 17, 1981, contained the officer's intended or recommended
action, the officer's name and payroll number, agency addresses
and telephone number, and brief information on alternative
action (see Appendix 0). The general public was also informed
about the change in police policy . in a newspaper article which
explained the details and intent of the change (see Appendix
P). It was agreed that similar press releases would be
drafted periodically or when major developments occurred
(e.g., establishment of therapy croup for assailants, establishment
of victim advocacy clinic, conference, etc.).
The commit= ,= also 'ocused its attention on
increasinc the understanding of the public and pro=ce 4-nals
to the prcblem cf wi=e assaults. A cuesticnnaice was
trd amprmximatelv 500 rssicnals in the ccmmunity whc may have
intervenedw'th =bused wcrPn (=-=-= Apmehdix M). Prm=,=sz'on='=
-53-
social workers, counse"o-s,
scaz- s, msycholocists,
1.- civ=d a r=mort ^n th= r=, su'zs o' cust'onn.='r
and specific comm.,nts. R,-- stonses , o th‘= communi=vstionna 4 ==
indicated that the professiona's were seldCm in contact with
abused women and rarely saw abusive males. Professionals
indicated that they often made referrals to other community
agencies, with the Women's Community House being the agency
to which . the largest number of referrals are made. Two-
thirds of the respondents endorsed a need for more community
agencies who specialize in the area cf familv violence. Most
of the professionals saw the need for increased co-ordination
between the criminal justice eystam and other systams.
All of the practitioners that received a copy of the questionnaire
were also sent a final report of the questionnaire results
as well ms a - ,."nce list and an outline cf other activities
in the community.
In addition to gathering information on wife abuse
from professionals in the community, the committee decided
to sponsor a conference on wife abuse entitled, Wife Eatterinc:
Obstacles and Routes to Solutions. 3oth professionals and
the general public were invited to attend the conference
which included discussion about the problems facing victims
and remedies for both victims and assailants.
-59-
The impact of the change in police policy
-egarding the laying of charces, was also an immormant issue
for the , in order to assess the impact
of this change, information was 'rom police and
court files on cases where police had charged the assailant.
The committee received a report of these cases which indicated
that within a four month period, thirty-eight common assault
charges were laid by police, whereas in the first six months
of 1979, no common assault charges were laid by police. In
addition, thirty-two charges of assault causing bodily harm
were laid by police during this same Period, compared with only
six charges of assault causing bodily harm being laid in a
six month period in 1979. •
Part cf the process of becoming momknowledgeable
about wife assaults involves ongoing education about the
issue. Consequently, members of the London Co-ordinating
Committee on Family Violence periodically received research
articles, literature reviews and summaries which were considered
important and informative. Furthermore, all members received
bibliographies which contained a list of -='=-=nce material
that could be obtained from the research person if they wished
to explore the issues further.
-h-cuchout the comm'ttee's oterations, members
a=k=A the -=s==--h=-s to '7.7=st'ta-= va-4.-"=
=nr; --oc .=s==-= =c- 1:n-= turtcse
0-1 determ 4 n'no -=x'st'nc m-cb'‘=ms and wav= -c faci . zaoe ,-h=nc=.
The London Co-crdinating Committee on Fni2.yViclence
is now in the process cf planning an evaluaticn cf new police
policies to Lay charges in cases of wife abuse. Services for
victims and oefenders, as well as a public and professicnal
(human service) education trogram will be evaluated within the
same =text. Zeta on the respanse of the criminal justice
system ta abused wives will be gathered in 1982 and compared
to 1979 data. Feedback from victims can also be analysed
over this periad to monitor significant changes. Future
research will attempt to tao the attitudinal and behavioural .
changes at all points in the London community and determine
how these changes lead to more responsive human services
in the areaof family violence.
-61-
CONCLUS:OS
The — 14 .•=s ■-= 4 -tact orln research - -=sen study ,
on a community committee mandated to imorove the criminal
justice system's response to abused women. The research was
formative in that it was intended to promote and develop new
program initiatives within the community. The London
Co-ordinating Committee on ramily Violence guided the research
and became, in itself, a major outcome of this study. The
committee process helped members to develop an awareness of
the problems facing women assaulted by their husbands, appreciate
the importance of data for validating the extent of the problem,
and encouraged the creation of more victim-responsive policies.
One of the critical lessons learned within the
committee was that there was a need for more co-ordination
in the criminal justice system. The number of conflicting
policies, both formal and informal, were astounding. The
criminal justice system was inadvertently geared to sending
victims around in circles with different authorities giving
contradictory advice to the victims. The process facing a
victim wanting protection from her husband was very much a came
of chance. The key agents in the criminal justice system
(police, court c" 4 -='=, Crown attorneys, and judges), all
had ding v4,=ws and molic 4 es that -h'r me.ro=pt'on
cf family violence. became -1 -_ear that the criminal justice
=vst=m c-.== ."v= f-hanc=. .=s m”ch as = comm"--r.‘=n -
for the co-ordination cf its mar-s.
-62-
,L __e data az - e:ed td .4 'sc- =ser4 5'; "h= o -mm'tz==
-....„ _
_-m direction, _m ,=. .1 , -c 4 hz. ,h same zh _ _ ___=__--
elsewhere in :lorth America. Abused women we-e 7a,4 = to e== 1
that their problams were not the concern of the crl:minal justice
system and the" were made to feel more like offenders in
pursuing their rights. The data was startling in demonstrating
the extent of physical violence women suffered in comparison
to the weak criminal justice system response.
The data suggests a wide variety cf needs facing
abused women. The needs are vond the solution provided by
one program or only one part of the system. The needs can
only be met through a whole spectrum of services ranging
from police intake to the court disposition. Many programs
recuire support and a renewed responsiveness from other parts
of the system. For example, police laying assault charges
assume that the Crown attorney's office has the staff, expertise
and time to prosecute these cases and, that the judges are
aware of the problem and have available resources to solve
the problems facing victims and offenders.
Just as programs cannot be piecemeal in their
response, evaluations must also have a broad base and seek a
similar level cf integration. Each new program has spinoffs
that a- the whol= svst=m. For mx.mm'=, treaz.enc p-ogram=
for asaailants may encourage women to seek the laying cf
because they are identify a concern that may have a solution.
-63-
charces and may convince police and courts to follow through
T o evaluate only the impact of the program by assessing
changes in the participants would be overlookinc a'wealth
of data.
P'e7rPeNC'eS
Bass, Z., à ?.ce, J. Agency restonmes -0 the ahused w'e=. Social Caa=wc-k, 1 979, 63, 323-342.
Blair, S. Making the legal s.- te m wor< for hatzered women. In D.M. Moore (Ed.) Battered Uomen. Beverley Bills: Sage Publications, 1979.
Boyd, V.D. Domestic violence: Treatment alternatives for the male batterer. Paper presented at the 83th American :Psychological Association Annual Convention, 1977.
Suzawa, E.S. Police officer resmonse to domestic violence lecislation in Michigan. Paner presented at the National Conference for Family Violence Researchers, Durham, Mew Hampshire, July 1 981 ,
Chapman; J.R. & Gates, M. (ids.), The V 4 ct 4 mization of Women. Beverley Bills: Sage mublic=t'ons, 1 979.
Cobash, R.E., a Oobash, R. Violence Acainst Wives. ':iew York: Th‘n Free Press, 1 979.
Dutton, D. Battered Women and the Canadian Justice Svstem. Ottawa: Solicitor General of Canada Research Bulletin, in oress.
Egley, L.C. A Shelter-3ased Grcum Counsellinc Plan for Men Who Batter, 1981.
Emerson, C.D. Family violence: A study by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. '1'he Police Chief, 1 979, Jun.. ‘=8 - 30 .
Everett, S., & Checker, J. On Prevention of Male Abuse. Champaign, tllincis: ERAF, Inc., 1980.
Fleming, J.3. Stomming Uife Abuse. Garden City, :iew York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1979.
Frederiksen, L.W., Anderson, C.L., à Feigenbaum, R. Grcum Services for Batterers, Montgomerv County, 1 930. -----
Fromson, T. The Proor's Respcne'^" 4-ies in Sccuse Abuse Cases. Attorney Community Services, 2n. 1.973, Sepzemher, 1 - 23.
Ganley, A.L., Ea--° s, I. Ocmes+'°c violence: 2=sues 'n desimninc and immlmg=nt'nc m-cc-ams for m= 1 ., hatt=-=-s. Pape- m-esenz=,4 e" Psvono2oc't 1 A=socizzi-n, 1981.
-65-
Gayford, J.J. Wife battering: A preliminary study of 100 cases. '-,""sh M=.d'c. 1 Journal, 1 975, ,, 194- 1 97.
Ge'lr, C.A., & Walsh, S.C. A treatment model cf the Victims' B--=au ce Suffolk, :nc. New York, Unpublished
paper, 1979.
Gellmr, J.A. Reaching the battering hus band. Social Work With Groups,1978, 1(18)
• Gelles, R.J. Abused wives: Why do they stay? Journal
Marriace and the Family, 1976, 38, 659-668.
Gelles, R.J. & Straus, M.A. Violence in the American family. Journal of Social Issues, 1979, 35, 15-39.
Gelles, R.J. Violence in the family: A review of research in the seventies. Journal of Marriage and the ramily, 1980, 42, 873-885.
Goode, W. Force and violence in the family. Journal of Marriace and the Family 1979, 33, 624-635.
Hackler, J. & Gauld, L. Policies toward violent crime: Alberta as a case study. Canadian Journal of Criminolocv. 1981, 23(3), 313-329.
Hilberman, E. Overview: The 'wife-beater's wife" reconsidered. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1980, 137, 1336-1347.
Hogarth; J. Battered wives and the justice system. Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia, 1973, Unpublished paper.
Hollingshead, A.B. The index of social position. Yale University, 1958, Unpublished paper.
Jaffe, P.C.., Thompson, J.K., & Paquin, M.J. immediate family crisis intervention as preventative mental health: The Family Consultant Service. Professional Psychology, 1978, November, 551-560.
King, L. ReSponding to smouse abuse: The mental health profession. Response, 1981, 4(5), 6-9.
Langley, R., & Levy, R.C. Wife Seatinc: The Silent Crisis. New York: Robert Brooks, 1979.
La A. Alternaties -c 7'ol.nc.. Long Beach, C.': vMe-A, UnmUbliS'ned paper.
Le-man, L.G. C-'r , na' p-ms..--ut'on cf -..."f= bearers. Resocnse, 1 98 1 , 4(3).
Loving, N. Re=rona'no -c couse Abus= and W'== Guide for Police. Wasnincron, D.C.; ".x=curiv= Research Foram, 1 930.
•.■
-86-
Macreod, L. 'e= 3at- =-'nc 'n Canada: rrn., ----- .
Ottawa: Canadian Government Publishing Centre, 1930.
ma--=-=A W".7.es. D. 1 Z .^
Martin, D. What keecs a woman o=oz - v= 'n = v'ol=nz o: The social tontec Of bat-er-ng. :nD.M. Moor= Battered omen. 3ev=- 1 =v 3 ,11 =: Sac= P-*-ons, 1 979.
Moore, D.M. (Ed.). 3a--=-= ,4 Women. 3everlev F'lls: Sage Publications, 1979.
Nichols, B. The abused wife problem. Social Casework, 1976, 57, 27-32.
• O'Brien, J.E. Violence in Divorce prone families. Journal of Marriace and the Familv, 1 971, 33, 692-698.
Pahl, J. The general practitioner and the problems of bat.= ,•=rl women. Journal of Medical Ethics, 1979, 5, 117-123.
Pfouts, J.E. Violent families: Coping responses cf abused wives . child we lee,=, 1979, 57, 101_111.
Potter, J. Police and the battered wife: The search for understanding. Police Magazine, 1 878, 10, 41-50.
Purdy, F. & tackle, N. Practice principles for helping men who batter. Social Work with Groups, 1982, 4(4).
Rammattan, J. Meade, Cerre, M.L. & Porto, M.L. Physically abused women: Satisfaction with sources of help. The Social Worker, 1980, 48(4), 162-166.
Rounsaville,B. Battered wives: Barriers to identification and treatment. American Journal of Orthomsychiatry, 1973, 48, 487-494.
Rounsavil1e,3., Lifton, N. & Bi=ber, M. The natural histe--my of a psychotherapy group for battered women. Psychiatry, 1979, 42, 63-87.
Senna, A.A. Assailant Counselling Program. Muskegon, Michigan: Everywoman's Place, inc. Unpublished paper, 1981.
Shainess, N. Vulnerability to violence: Masochism as Process. Ame-ican Journal 0 4 Psvchoth=-acy, 1979, 33, 174- 1 39.
Sieh, N. E. Fam'iv Violence Prose ,-- - '^n Manual. Santa Barbara, Ca.: Countv District Attorney, 1980.
- Star, Barbara. Pattern in family violence. Social Casework.
1980, 81, 339-346.
Stark, E. , 1/ 4 i-cr, A., & W., Medicine and matria-oha' violence: The social construction of a 'private" event. rnt=-n=-'on= 1 jot , -n= 1 of ealth Services, 1 979, 9(2) 461-493.
-67-
Stark, E., & Flitcraft, A. st'ch.' deta c zne ba cre. P..c.=- t-=senz--zdthe Nat'onal rohf..-=nce for Family Violnce P.s.c.m--n=rs, Du-ham, New Hamteh'-e., July 1981.
M 1 , Ge.1s,R.Z. & St=.inmzz, S.K. Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family. Garden City, N.Y.: Ancnor Press/ Doubleday, 1980A. •
Straus, M.A., & Hotaling, G.T. (Eds.), The Social Causes of Husband-Wife Violence. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 19803.
Thompson, G.M. Resolution of domestic problems in the courtroom. In D'Oyley, V. (Ed.) Domestic Violence: Issues and Dynamics, Toronto: The Ontario Institue for Studies in Education, 1978, 101-108.
Trent, D. Wife beating: A msycho-legal analysis. Women Lawver's Journal, 1979, 65, 9-25.
Walker, L. The Battered Woman. New York: Harper. & Row, 1979.
Wayne, Candace. Advocacy with the Criminal Justice System on Behalf of Battered Women. Chicaco, Illinois: Legal Centre for Battered Women, 1979.
Wetzel, L. Profile of Batterer. Champaign, Illinois: PAF, Inc., 1980.
Woods, L. Litigation on behalf of 5at-gâA women. Women's Richts Law Remorter. 1978, 5, 7-34.
=e =
-68-
., A
:r -2E77 -7 3.:=NAL RESPONSES 1'0 ASUSED ".1CMU i:;::.
AND SCC:AL SERV:CE S?STEMS
Juszlce Svstm
Manv researchers have felt that the response
from the police and courts to abused wcmen is extremely important
since assault is a criminal offence often recuiring scme form
of immediate intervention such as police pressure, apprehension,
and a ccurt appearance. These actions indicate to the assailant
the unacceptability cf his behaviour. Traditionally, police
cfficers called to the scene of a dcmestic dispute respond
reluctantly and are mainly ccncerned that the violence does
not cccur in their presence. Oncea determination of the absence
cf violence has been made, the officers cften leave the victim
with her assailant, making few :e'-ls to other agencies,
occasionally instructingthe victim about the prcc=d1.1 ,-= for lav 4 no
charges, and seldomly laying their own assault charges or making
arrests (Dutton, 1980; Loving, 1930; WaYne, 1979 ).
If an assaulted or threatened female w'sh=s
to pursue further criminalacticn against her assailant, she
must eae, a justice of the caeca who w'll dez=-min= the 1=c 4 timecv
of the assault claim and choose whether or nct to process the
charges. Z:sually, the justice cf the peace and cther court
agents are unwilling to take the offence seriously and
'nst=ed, -4' 1 1 r=ccrm=nd a "ccol'ng c'f" oe, ---d ar. -h= end o=
which the abused female is enccuraged tc reccncile with her
assailant (Tutttn, 1930; Fleming, 1979; licgarth, 1 973; Langl=v
-69-
& Levy, 1979; Ma=4"n, 1 979; "Do -t=-, 1978; Straus, 1 930). In
fact, cases cf wife abuse are viewed by many criminal .;:ust'ce
system agents as being less serious than similar assauts
between strangers (Dutton, 1980; Lerman, 198 1 ).
The traditional response of the prosecutor in these
cases is a reluctance to prosecute (Fromson, 1978; Hogarth,
1978; Langley & Levy, 1979; Loving, 1980; Straus, 1980) due
to professional inexperience, a large volume of cases, attitudinal
problems, the low priority assigned to domestic violence, and
victim ambivalence (Dutton, 1980; Lean, 1981; Wayne, 1979).
Consistent with the response of other court agents, judges
may fail to appreciate the seriousness of domestic assaults
or feel powerless with available court dispositions and,
as a result, the sentencing of convicted assailants is extremely
lenient (Dutton, 1980; Martin, 1979; Straus, 1980; Thompson,
1978; Trent, 1979).
b) The Medical System
When a woman has been injured by her spouse she
often needs medical attention, although few abused women w411
seek any type of outside intervention. The traditional response
of the medical mrcfessicn has been an avoidance of the issue
w4 = .7. = ,=w mr=ct.""on=rs cue=t'on 4 -.g the victim about -h= source
of her injur i es (Dcbash, 1979; King, 1931; Rounsav"1=, 1979;
Stark =t. .., 1979 ). 7ev=n wh=n the '=m. 1 = confesses to -h=
-70-
doctor =hat her 'n:"u ,-"..e 'rom dr=est'-
=1.1=‘ mhysi-'=n o'z=n .n^ ' -oks fo- ozh= -
sYmptoms. =n facz, Stark at al. U379) report that only one .t.n
tan battered women who goes =the emergency ward of a . general
hospital is recognized as an abused woman; however, even though
doctors fail to identify the abuse,they do respond to this
group of women diee= --•=mtly.
The most popular intervention used by physicians
who are presented with an abused woman is the administration of
drugs, usually tranqu'l's (Chapman, 1979; Dobash, 1979;
Gayford, 1975; Pahl, 1973; Rounsaville, 1978). Ironically,
when doctors fail to identify domestic violence as the source
of the problem, they label the problem as drug abuse, alcoholism, •
or some psychiatric disorder (Stark et al., 1979). Abused
women are seldcmly referred to another agency by the practitioners,
and those that are most often go to mental health
facilities, detoxification units, and drug abuse programs (Stark
et al., 1981). These types of ot the medical
professions' belief that there must be some other explanation
for the abused female's problems, besides the violence. :n
fact, many practitioners assert that the victim is to blame
for her own misfortune (Fleming, 1979; Stark et al., 1981)
and some go sa far as to say that abused women like the violence
they rece 4 v0 (Rounsav 41 1=-, 1 979).
-71-
Another attitude which is shared by many medical
practioners is that wife abuse is a private family matter in
which :heir interference is undesirable (Dobash, 1979; Stark
et al., 1980). Chaman (1979) and King (1981) report that
male physicians are generally biased against women and habitually
stereotvpefemales as victims who need their partners' control.
Recent studies have shown that victims of family
violence who turn to the medical system are not always satisfied
with the response they receive. It is reported that only 44%
(Pahl, 1979) to Sl%(Ramrattan et al., 1980) of abused women
receiving medical intervention were satisfied with the doctor's
assistance. Stark et al., (1979) suggest that the traditional
medical response to abused women has actually contributed to
the ongoing violence:
The emerging pattern of abuse derives as much from the individual bias of the medical paradigm and the structural constraints imposed on the physician's reponse to abuse by the medical system's need to control a persistent patient population as it does from a tragic encounter between a male aggressor and a female victim (Stark et al., 1979, p. 463).
The Mental Health System
The diverse psychological effects of being assaulted
in one's own home can be devastating. Some of the most
common psycholog 4 ca' manifestations of the victimization include
low self-esteem, humiliation, depression, anxiety, and feelings
c e b.1-1 essress and towe-lessness (Chapman, 1979; Walker,
1979). Consequently, when a ba-- - e-er' woman turns to an agent
-72-
of the mental health system for assistance, the respcndent ma-;
be uncertain abcut the type of interventicn that will be most
effective, especially if the male is still living with her
assailant or is constantly be'ng threatened. Membe-s ce the
mental health system are usually as uninformed about the issues
of wife abuse as the agents of the criminal justice and medical
systems. Furthermore, mental health professionals are inclined
to define wife abuse as a law enforcement problem, whereas the
criminal justice professionals believe that mental health
intervention will be most effective.
In the past, abused women who have sought the help
of psychiatrists have been told that the problem is their
own responsibility. Many psychiatrists go so far as to assert
that the victim is to blame for the violence, and counselling
often focuses on ways in which the female can avoid provoking
her partner's anger (Dcbash, 1979; Fleming, 1979). In fact,
Fleming (1979) suggests that "the tendency to blame the victim
remains deeply entrenched within traditicnal psychiatric
circles" (p. 76).
Since it is assumed that the victim cf family
violence scmehow causes her own misfortune, the most commcn
intervention strategy consistscf labelling the female's "symptoms"
or perscnal inadequacies, such as psychiatric disorders,
drug abuse, and alcohol abuse (Dobash, 1979; R=ratzan et al.,
1980; Rounsaville, 1978). Therefcre, the abused wcman who
requests the service of the mental healtn system is often
-73-
persuaded to think that she is the 'sick' éne who uires
medication and/or hosmitalization. Finally, there is very
little mental health research which deals with innovative
and effective interventions for victims or assailants of
family violence.
d) The Social Service System
Social service professionals are inclined to
avoid the issue of domestic violence and are often suspicious
about the extent of violence reported by their female clients.
Many workers believe that the abused woman must be exaggerating
about what is really going on in her home (Dobash, 1979; King,
1979). Aside from women's shelters, few agencies in Canada
have the primary mandate of providing services to victims
of family violence. Social workers are concerned about protecting
the nuclear family and the traditional male and female roles
(Dobash, 1979; Loving, 1980). Furthermore, not unlike agents
of the other community systems, social workers tend to hold
both the female and the male responsible for any violence that
occurs (Bass & Rice, 1979). Social service professionals who
do not adhere to the traditional view of familv violence are
often hampered by a high volume of cases or may lack the support
of their supervisors for dealing directly with family violence.
Other drawbacks to this svstem's reponse to abused women include
the unav 41 - 4 't
1980), the reluctance to have any contact with the assailant
y of workers during emergency hours ;Loving,
-74-
Dcbash, (1979), and the social wc=kers' lac cf knc-e.r 1 =
-=ca.rd'ng the ccm=unitv resci=ces (3ass & Rice, 1979).
1- residence of couple 2- residence of female 3- residence of male 4- public place 5- other 8- not applicable
1- married 2- common-law 3- separated 4- divorced 5- other
1- no-one 2- children 3- relatives 4- neighbours or friends 5- other
1- yes 2- no, a relative or children 3- no, a neighbour or friend 4- no, other
1- white 2- non-white 9- missing information
1- yes no
3- housewife 9- missing information
11:111:1 L__4 5 6 7 8
1- 10 11 12
13
2o 21
2'
14 15
E::] 16
23
17
18
19
-75-
APPENDIX Charges
CODE DIE:7 FOR TME LONC0N POLICE FORCE OCCURRENCE REPORTS
SEPTEMSER 1980
E:
Occurrence Hunter
Case number
Month
Day
Location of occurrence
Principals' relationship
Persons observing occurrence
Did complainant phone the police
Female emeloyed
FEMALE
Age _
Colour
years
Mad female consumed alcmhol or drugs
Was ferale interviewed by POliCe
MALE
Ace years
Colour
Employed
Had male consumed alcohol or drugs
Was male interviewed
Suspect left before police arrived
Oid female complain of injuries
Extent of violence
24
25
/1 26 27
28
E::1 29
30
31
E.2
33
C::2 34 35
-76-- PC2
1-. yes 2- no
1- yes 2-no 9- missing information
1- white 2- coloured 9- missing information
1- yes 2- no 9- missing information
1- yes 2- no 9- missing information
1- yes 2-no
1- yes 2-no 9- missing information
1-yes 2- no
1- threatened to hit or throw something at the other one
2- threw or smashed or hit or kicked something
3- threw something at the other . one
4- pushed, grabbed, or shoved the other one
OS- slapped the other one 6- kicked, bit, or hit with a
fist 7- hit or tried to hit with
something 8- beat up the other one 9- threatened with a gun or
knife 10- used a gun or knife 11- other
Did the male complain of injuries
Injuries to male
. .
Treatment of injuries to male
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
-77-
PC3
1- none 2- not visible 3- bruises 4- bleeding 5- fractures 5- required hospitalization 8- not applicable
1- none required 2- advised to see doctor 3- advised to go to emergency 4- taken to emergency 5- hospitalized 8- not applicable
Extent of -most serious injuries
Treatment of injuries to female
Had the female assaulted the male 1- yes 2- no
1- yes 2- no
1- none 2- not visible 3- bruises 4- bleeding 5- fractures 6- required hospitalization 8- not applicable
1- none required 2- advised to see doctor 3- advised to go to emergency 4- taken to emergency 5- hospitalized 8- not applicable
Charges discussed or laid by police 1- no charges mentioned 2- police advised to lay charge 3- police laid charges 4- police laid charges and
advised that others be laid 9- missing information
1- assault causing bodily harm 2- common assault 3- threatening charge 4- other 8- not applicaole 9- missing information
If female advised to see JP, what was she advised to lay
Specific charges laid by police
Other advice given by police
Expressed wishes of female
Expressed wishes of male
44
45
C::1 46
47
ts]
49 later
50
11 51 5Z
- 78-
PC4
1- none 2- assault causing bodily harm
(CC 245-2) 3 =mum assault (CC 245-1) 4- threatening (CC 745) 5- breech of the peace (CC 31) 6- arrested on outstanding
warrant 7- other.
1- no advice given 2- nonspecific advice 3- calm down and keep the -to male
peace 4- leave premises 5- seek outside help (e.g.
WCH, PC, F&CS, medical -to female attention, legal aid)
6- other
1- none 2- arrest male 3- remove male 4- remove me 5- leave us alone
• 6- other
1- none 2- arrest female 3- remove female 4- remove tra 5- leave us alone 6- other
Family Consultant involvement
Number of underlying issues mentioned by police
Mumter of lines of material written by police
1- no 2- yes, called by police 3- yes, requested by family 4- yes, contacted by family
—79—
Cases Included in Study
London Police Force Occurrence Reports
Occurrence No.
Case No.
Date
Radio Dispatch Card
Label
Code
Occurrence Report
Label
13
14
15
16
o 19
CD 2
2 1
-3] rm
22 23
El El
25 27
29 30
31
• APPENDIX • C
CODE SHEET FOR L.P.F. PRIVATE INFORMATION CASE HISTORY AND C'HARGE SHEETS
Occurrence numper
Case numcer
Court handling proceedings
Warrant or summons 1- warrant 2- summons
Charge 1- assault causing bodily harm (CC 245-2)
2- common assault (CC245-1) 3-threats,fearing (745) 4- Breach of recognizance (746) 5- other
More than one charge laid 1- no 2- yes, 2 3- yes, 3 4- yes, 4.
• 5- yes, more than 4
Other charges laid 1- assault causing bodily harm 2- common assault
• 3- threats, fearing 4- breach of recognizance 5- other 8- not applicaâle
Date of offence Month
Day
Court data Month
Day
Principal's relationship 1- married 2- common- law 3- separated 4- divorced
number of years in relationship
Any childre 1- yes 2- no
1- Criminal 2- Family 3- other
CEEE
9 10 11
28
LI 32
Number of children
1- yes 2-no
Previous assaults
Description:
1- yes 2-no
1- yes 2- no 8- not applicable
CURRENT OFFENCE
Injuries
Treatment
Month
Day
Date of interview
33
34
35
36
37
38 .39
40 41
PIZ' -81-
Extent of injuries 1- not visible 2- bruises 3- lacerations 4- fractures 5- required hospitalization 6- other • 8- not applicable
Peace Bond requested 1- yes 2- no
Narrative:
Case numer
Date of offence -month
-day
Number of charges
Most serious charge
Who laid the charge
3 4 5 6
7 8
9 f""t7
11
12
13
PREVIOUS CHARGES
Number of previous charges
Nature of previous charges
....mommeame■
19
LJ 20
21
T.
-82-
APPENDIX D
CODE SHEET FOR FAMILY COURT FILES
1- assault causing bodily harm 2- common assault 3- threats, fearing 4- breach of recognizance 5- other
1- female 2- police 3- other
If mre than one information laid, what 1- assault causing bodily harm was the charge (s) 2- common assault
3- threats, fearing • 14 4- breach of recognizance 5- other 8- not applicable 15
Were threatening words recorded 1- yes 2- no 8- not applicable 16
Proceedings under Criminal Code 1- Criminal Code or Family Law Reform Act 2- Family Law Reform Act
3- both 17
Proceedings under Divorce Act 1- concurrent proceedings 2- previous proceedings 3- none 18
1- assault causing bodily harn 2- common assault 3- threats, fearing 4- breach of recognizance 5- other 8- not applicaoie
EI 22 23
24
25
26
E:1 27 28
-83-
(2)
Court outcome of previous charges
SUBSEQUENT CHARGES
Number of subsequent charges
Nature of subsequent charges
Court outcome of subsequent charges
1- charge dismdssed 2- charge.withdrawn . 3- found not guilty 4- guilty- absolute discharge 5- guilty- suspended sentence 6- guilty- conditional dischar 7- guilty- probation 8- guilty- fine and/or jail 9- entered into Peace Bond 10- other 88- not appilcaple
1- assault causing bodily harm 2- common assault 3- threats, fearing 4- breach of recognizance 5- other 8- not applicaole
1- charge dismissed 2- charge withdrawn 3- not guilty 4- guilty- absolute discharge 5- guilty- suspended sentence 6- guilty- conditional discharg 7- guilty- probation 8- guilty- fine and/or jail 9- entered into Peace Bond 10- other 88- not applicable
Principal's relationship 1- married 2- common-law 3- separated 4- divorced
Date of first appearance in court -month
-day
Number of days from offence to first court appearance
Presiding judge 1- Genest 2- Voge I sang ( )
' 3- other
29
o 30 31
Do 12 33
34 35
36
CI\ 41
42 43 44
El 45 48
■■•■••■.
47 48
C::3
tmgmagrb
39
fum er of times case in court
:Number of days between offence and final decision
1- case dismissed 2- charge withdrawn 3- found not guilty 4- found guilty- absolute
discharge 5- found guilty- suspended
sentence 6- guilty- probation 7- guilty- fine 8- guilty- jail 9- guilty- fine and jail 10-entered into Peace Bond 11- other
Final court outcome
Final court outcome on other charge(s) (use scale in above question) 88- not applicable
Warrants issued for accused 1- none 2- remanding prisoner 3- commital upon convict:in* 4- other
How did the defendent plea
•••ti ,4•••
(3 )
1- guilty 2- not guilty 3- no plea 4- agreed to Peace Bond 5- failed to enter Peace 8ond
37
Was there a trial 1- yes 2- no 8- not applicable
Outcome of first court appearance 01-2ostponed 2- agreed to enter into Peace
Bond 3- wouldn't enter into Peace
Bond 4- charge withdrawn 5- case dismissed 6- adjourned for counsel 7- plea or charge heard only
•
8- accused remanded into custody 9- defendant found guilty 10- defendant found not guilty 11- other
.
Details of fine and/or jail sentence
Conditions of probation
Conditions of Peace Bond
50 51
11 52 53
54 55
56 57
11 11 58 59
•••••■•111
••■■•■•■
60 61
El 62 63
(1, 64 65
-85-
(4)
1- 0- $99 2- $100 - $200 3- $201 - $1,000 4- over S1,000 5- 0 to 5 days in jail 6- 6 to 10 days in jail 7- 11 to 20 days in jail 8- 21 to 30 days in jail 9- over 30 days in jail 10- less than or equal to $100 and
less than or equal to 5 days in jail
11- $101 to $500 and 5 or less days in jail
12- less than or equal to $1,000 and less than or equal to 20 days in jail
13- over $1000 and more than 20 days in jail
14- other 88- not applicable
1- keep the peace and be of good behaviour
2- see probation officer for.less than 6 months
3- see probation officer for 6 months to one year
4- see probation officer for more than one year
5- abstain from alcohol 6- seek counselling 7- do not go near or attempt any
communication with complainant 8- seek psychiatric help 9- other 88- not applicable
1- keep the peace and be of good behaviour
2- duration of less than or equal to one year
3- duration of more than one year 4- surety of less than or equal to
$500 5- surety of les than or equal to
S1000 6- surety of more than $1000 7- do not go witnin one city block
of complainant 8- seek conselling 88- not applicable
•
Reports available to judge before sentencing Do
68 67 ••••••••■•
-86-
(5)
1- none 2- Family Court Clinic 3- LPH 4- Probation Officer OS- Family Counselling Cantre 6- employer, family doctor, et 7- statement made by comlaina 8- statement made by accusad 9- evidence from defence
lawyer 10- evidence from Crown 11- other
-87—
APPENDIX F
ccrE CEEET.FOR DATA FROM LONDW POLICE
FORCE COMPUTER FILES
Marne of Assailant:
Case Number:
Date of Birth of Assailant: (month) (year)
Primary Occurrence Number:
Date of Primary Occurrence: , 1979
Naze of Complainant:
Complainant's Most Recent Address:
Telephone:
Number of Occurrences With Male Before Primary One:
TYPE - family trouble
- assaulting other
other
Number of Occurrences After Primary One:
TYPE: - family trouble
- assaulting other
- other
(day)
(month) (day) (month) (day)
-88-
APPENDIX 7
SPLINTAP. 1.N7^Pm=tr:ON FRCM C=Rr"
Of the 222 calls to the police, 190 (36%) were
placed by the female and 9% were made by a neighbour.
Sixty-two percent cf the males and females were married at
the time of the assault, 24% were living together and not
married, and the remai ,,i-g 14% were separated or divorced.
Fortynine percent of the males and 24% of the females
were drinking at the time of the incident. :n 23% of the
cases, the male had left before the police arrived; these
men l along with 13 (6%) others. who remained at the scene of the
assault but who were unco-onerative, were never interviewed
blithe police. The average age of the males was 34 years
(standard deviation of 10.3 years) and the females were
32 years old on average (standard deviation is 11 years).
The location of the assault is found in Table
7a and reveals that the assault took place in the couples'
residence in 179 (81%) cases. Table 7b shows that in
166 (75%) cases,there were no witnesses to the assault. .
In 23 (10%) cases,the children witnessed the assault.
Table 7c shows that almost all of the males and females
(91.5%) were white.
Thirty-one males (14% were arrested pursuant
to section 31 of the Criminal Code and were taken to jail
Percent %
10 0
No one • 166 Children 23 Relative(s) 10 Neighbour or friend 20 Other • 3
222 TOTAL
Type of witness Frequency
7 5
10
5
9
1
92 203 8 19
91 202 ,0 9
-89-
TABLES 7a to 7c
Table 7a
LOCATION OF ASSAUr"
Location Frequency mercenz %
Residence of male and female 179 81 . Residence of female only 22 10 Residence of male only 6 3 Public place 10 4 Other 5 2
TOTAL 222 100
Table 7b
WITNESSES TO THE ASSAULT
Table 7c
ETENICImY
Ethnicity and Sex Frequency Percent %
White female Non-white female
White male None-white male
-90-
for a few hours'to prevent a fer breach of the eace.
The Family Consultants (see Jaffe, Thompson & Pacuin,
L978), a family crisis itt=-7e-tior, ==' 4 "a- d with
the London City Police Force, were called in bv the officers
in 47 cases and their assistance was requested by the
families in another 15 cases: this results in the Family
Consultants being involved in 27% of the total cases.
Most of these calls to the police (81%) were
sent 'Code 2 by the radio dispatcher which means that
the officer should proceed directly to the scene while
staying within the speed limit and making no stops. Only
3% of the calls went out 'Code 3' meaning that it is a
life-threatening situation allowing the officer :to travel
up to 20 miles an hour over the speed limit.
A total of 52 assailants were taken to court as
a result of a threatening or assault incident that occurred
in the first half of 1979 (37 women laid private informations
after the contact with the police, nine women laid private
informations without police intervention, and police laid
six charges of assault causing bodily harm). Forty-nine
of these cases 194%) were sent to Family Court and the
remaining three cases (6%) were heard in Criminal Court.
The justice of the peace issued warrants for the arrest
of three assailants.
-9 1 -
According to the case histories which are
by a constable at the police headquarters after
the women lay private informations, the victims and assailants
had been living together an average of 8.9 vears'and 85%
of the women had children. The average length of time
which elapsed between the alleged assault or threat and the
first court appearance was 20 days with the cases returning
to court an average of three time.
Eleven males (21%) who were found guilty of assault
were given a suspended sentence or conditional discharge .and
Table Sa shows that over half of these males were placed
on probation for six months to one year. Table Sb reveals
• that five of these males were ordered not to attempt any
communication with the female, four were instructed to
seek counselling, and two were advised to abstain from
alcohol consumption. Five of the nine males who entered
recognizances to keep the peace were ordered not to communicate
or associate with the females.
Only three males (5%) were fined and Table Sc
shows that they each had to pay different amounts. Three
males were imprisoned with sentences lasting six to ten
days and twentv-one to thirty days. Finally, Table 8d
shows that the judge received a nresentence report in nine
(17%)of the cases, with five reports coming from the
probation office.
Less than six months Six months te one Year Over one year
2 o 3
Length of Probation Order Frequency
TOTAL II
Frequency Type of Report
5 2
- 92-
Tables Sa to 8d
Table Se
LB:MTH OF PROBATION ORDERS AND CONDITIONAL DISCBARGES
Table Sb
CONDITIONS OF PROBATION ORDERS FOR SUSPENDED SENTENCES & CONDITIONAL DISCEARGES
Conditions Of Probation Frequency
Male must not make any attempt to 5 communic , te with the complainant
Male should seek counselling 4
Male should abstain from consuming 2 alcohol
TOTAL 11
Table Sc
DETAILS OF FINES AND JAIL SENTENCES
Type and Amount of Penalty Frequency
Fine: Less than $100 1 $100 to $200 1
- $201 to $1000 1
Jail: Six to ten days 1 Eleven to twenty days 1 Twentv-one to thirty days 1
Table Sd
PIEN"'eNC'e REPORTS
Probation officer's retort Report from Male'a employer Report from psychiatric hopit= 1
TOTAL 9
-93-
There were a nuzub.› - o= s'gr'''ca- - d nces
between the females who contacted the police only, and those
who laid charges. The number of females who went to court
and were sezarated from their partners was significantly
greater than the number of separated females who called
the police only (1s,2 (3) = 33.67, E<: .001). The females
who went to court had more witnesses to the violence (z (4)= 14.99,
E (.05) and wer drinking less frequently when the police came
(1;2 (1) = 4.5, m < .05). Furthermore, the females who
went to court had fewer alternatives cutlinedtc them by
2 police (1%. (5) = 11.6, m < .05), and were not likely to
be involved with the Family Consultants as often as the
females who received police intervention only (-;2 (4) = 16.01,
E .005).
• .• • -94- ' APPEND/X
Address MI =weft:reign= e3 Er- CF PCLICE
PCS7 CFFIC5 ECX 3415 LONCCN, CNTÀ4110 N6A 4X9 519/679-5670
October 6, 1980
Dear Madam:
The Police Force, in an effort to more effectively meet the needs of the community, is evaluating the existing police services. Presently, attention is being directed to the police handling of domestic related. issues as well as the follow-up by ?amily Court in cases where charges have been laid.
Police officers in London have been specially trained to deal with domestic crises, which are common occur-rences in today's society. Also, the London Police Force has the innovative Family Consultant Services which provides additional support to police officers and families.
We are seeking your assistance in the evaluation of these aspects of the Police Force and of the information and support you have received regarding proceedings through Family Court. To this end, we ara soliciting your candid opinions and impressions, as well as feedback regarding the value that these services have been to you.
We would like to conduct an interview with you from which we hope to get a better understanding of how eve the services have been to date and how they may be modified or better coordinated. Carole Anne Burns, a research coordinator funded by the Research Branch of the
-95-
-2-
Solicitor General of Canada and working under the supervision of Dr. P. Jaffe in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario, will be contacting you in the next few days to arrange an interview. In recognition of the • importance of the information you will be providing for us in our program development, we will forward you $10.00 on completion of the interview.. All information will be treated in strictest confidence and no identifying data (names) will be attached to the interview results. The interview is intended to be completely voluntary. Any questions you may have can be directed to Carole Anne Burns at 679-3512. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Harold E. McBride Acting Chief of Police
HEM/ew
INTERVIEU FORM
Occurrence nunrier
Case number
-96- • • • Appendix H able.
Ci 2.
01011:11- 3 4 5 6 7 8
7-1 C.1 9 10 11 12
Date of interview , 19
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
1. Marital status 1-married 2-common- 1 aw 3-separated El 4-divorced 13
2. Is famale presently living with 1-yes, same one partner 2-yes 1 different one
• 3-no 14
3. Length of involvement with abusive partner years C:
15 16
4. Hue woman and parer been 1-no involved in subsequent court 2-divorce proceedings
C7.3 proceedings 3-custody rights . 4-ether assault charges 17
WOMAN
6. Highest level of education 01-grade 1 02-grade 2 03-grade 3 e 13-grade 13 14-1 to 3 years of college 15-1 to 4 years of university 16-M.A. I7-Ph. 0. 18-ether
18 19
LID 20
Do 21 22
•'• I
[::3 23 24
25
26
-2-
.0 •
6. Was female employed at time of abusive incident.
7. Female's occupation at time of incident
1- yes 2-no 3-welfare 4-unemployment insurance 5-mothers' allowance 6-other
01-professional/managerial 1 02-professional/managerial 11 03-semi-professional/ small
business 04-skilled 05-semi-skilled 06-unskilled 07-student 08-housewife 88-not applicable 99-missing information
MALE
a. Highest level of education. 01-grade 1 02-grade 2 03-grade 3 n _ M
13-grade 13 14-1 to 3 years of college 15-1 to 4 years of university 16-M.A. 17- Ph. D. 18-other
9. Was male employed at . time of absuive incident. 1-yes
• 2-No 3-welfare • 4-unemployment insurance 5-other
10. Male's occupation at time of incident. 1-professional/managerial 1
2-professional/managerial 11 3-semi-professional/small business 4- ski lled 5-semi-skilled 6-unski 1 led 7?student 8-not applicable 9-missing information
27
-3.-
11. Family's annual income at time of Incident.
12. Any children
13. Number of children
14. Who has legal custody of the children
15. Had the female or her partner been drinking at time of the incident.
16. Goes female think that alcohol was a contributing factor ta the violence
17. S inca the abusive incident, has the female or ma les alcohol consumption increased or decreased.
18. As a result of the abusive Incident, hcw many agencies have the female and male been involved with in the past year. -
1- 0 - $2,999 2- $3,000 - 7,999 3-$8,000 - S11,999 4- $12,000- S16,999 6.- 316,000- S19,999 6- $20,000- $24,999 7- over $25,000
1- ;es 2- no
1-joint 2-female 3-male 4-no legal custody 8-not applicable
I-yes, both 2-yes, male only 3-yes, female only 4-no
1-yes 2-no 8-not applicable
1-increased considerably 2-increased slightly -Male 3-unchanged. 4-decreased slightly . 5-decreased considerably, 8-not applicable - Femaie
29
29
30
31
33
34"
35
r.7; 37
[13CIJ 38 39
1:1001:111 40 41
42 43
---" 45
-99-.
-4-
19. Marne the agencies 01-Al-Anon -st involvement 02- 03-Big Brothers 04-Board of Education 2nd involvemen 05-Family Counselling Centre 06-C.P.R.I. 07-Welfare - 3rd involvemen 08-Consumer Debt 09-Detox. 10-Fe3i • . -4th involvement 11-Family Court Clinic 12-John Howard Society 13-Juvenile Detention 14-LPH 15-Madame Vanier's 16-Men's Mission 17-Merimna • 18-Public Health Unit 19-Mission Services
(family apartments) 20-Ontario Legal Aid 21-Probation and Parole 22-Probation and Aftercare 23-Quinton-Warner 24-Salvation Ar' . 25-St. Leonard's 26-St. Joseph's (Psychiatry) 27-St. Joseph's (social services) 28-Teen Girls" Home 29-University Hospital (Psychiatry) 30-Victdria Hospital (psychiatry) 31-Victoria Hospital (adolescent unit) 32-Rotholme
34-W. 0 .T.C.H. 35-Training school 36-psychologist (private practice)
38-other 88-not applicable
20. At the time of the incident how many people could the female talk to about it.
21. Old female ever reach a point when she decided that
.
she wasn't going to accept the abuse.
22.If yes to #21, what did the female do.
M. For the abusive incident in question, did the female call the police.
IF NO ONE CALLED THE POLICE, PROCEED TO4 47 24. at factor facilitated
female's decision to call the police.
2e . What factors impeded female's decision to call the police.
zs. When the female called the police, what did she
hope that they could do.
46
47
ti?
49
50
Lt 51
- 100-
-8-
1-Yes 2-No 3-don 't remember
1-called the police 2-told a relative or friend 3-foucht back 4-lefi her partner 5-laid a charge 6-other 8-not applicanie.
1-yes 2-no, someone else did 3-no one did
1-supportive community agencie 2-support of friends and
relatives 3-fear for children's safety 4-fear for own safety
' 5-economic dependence or support
6-having a place to go 7-otber 8-not applicable
1-0egative attitude of community agencies
2-lack of support from friends and relatives
3-economic dependence 4-fear of loneliness 5-seriousness of injuries 6-religious/cultural beliefs 7-ether 8-not appricaole
1-just stop the violence 2-threaten her partner 3-remove her partner 4-arrest her partner 5-embarrass him 6-treat his assaultive
behaviour 7-other 8-not app licaoTà
1-increased 2-increased e-unchanged 4-decreased
. 5-decreased
considerably slightly
slightly considerably
1-yes, assaulted 2-yes, threatened 3-yes, threatened and assaulted 4-No
1 55
I-yes 2-no 8-not applicable
1-Yes 2-No
1-yes 2-no 8-not applicable
I-Yes 2-No
56 57
o 58
59
DO 60 61
17.6-P
-101-
-6-
01-none 02-alcoholism 03-lack of confidence/insecurity 04-emotional difficulties 05-job stress 06-financial difficulties 07-jealousy 08-sexual problemm 88-not applicable
27. What were the male's major prooleme that contributed to his abusive incident. E::1
52 53
23. Has this problem increased or decreased since the abusive
incident.
2g. Prior to this incident, had partner ever assaulted female threated to assault IF NO, PROCEED TO # 32
54
30, If female had been previously assaulted or threatened, how many times did it occur. .
31. Did.female call the police for any of these previous assaults
32. Has your partner assaulted you since that incident. IF NO, PROCEED TO i 35.
33. If female has been assaulted since, how many times did it occur.
34. Old female call the police for any subsequent assaults
35, In the last 2 years, has female • contacted police for other reasons.
List. reasons
63
1-Yes 2-No 8-not applicable
I-yes 2-no
1-yes 2-no
I-yes 2-not
1-yes - 2-no
1-both the same '2-female 3-partner 4-children 5-no support for either
1-very dissatisfied 2-somewhat dissatisfied 3-indifferent 4-somewhat satisfied 5-very satisfied
1-yes 2-no
64
° t:::] 66
67
68
69
70
C2 71
72
73
-102-
. -7-
:6. At the time of the abusive incident dld the police respond as quickly as the female had wanted them to.
37. Old the police charge the male.
ZE. Old the female want the police to charge the male
29. Old police advise the female ta charge her partner
40. Old police advise the female to see the JP or a lawyer concerning legal action
41. Was the female satisfied with the advice she received frcm the police. 1-yes
2-no
42. Was the partner there when the 1-yes police arrived. 2-no
43. Whom does the female feel received the most support and understanding frcm the police.
44. In general, how satisfied is the female with the police intervention.
45. Would the female call the police if her partner hit her again.
46. What else could the police have done for the female
1 -yes 2-no
1-police called them in 2-police suggestion 3-family initiated 4-other
1-not at all helpful 2-no feelings 37somewhat helpful 4-extremely helpful
1-yes 2-no
1-yes 2-no 8-not applicable
1-yes 2-no
7.
DDt
1 •
E: 8
En] 10
[7.1 11
12
13
1 4
-1037
-8-
Case Number
47. Were you involved with the Family Consultants at the time of the abusive incident IF NO, PROCEED TO e; 54
48. How was the female introduced to the Family Consultants
49. How helpful was the FC intervention .
50. Did they refer female to another agency
Si. Did the female follow through on the referral
52. What else could they have done for the female
53. Has the female contacted the FCs since that incident
Reasons
54. Was the female aware of the Women's Community House at the time of the abusive incident.
55. After the abusive incident did the female contact the Women's Community House IF NO, PROCEED TO # 5.5
1-yes 2-no
1-Yes 2-no
15
16
17
18
19
20
56. How was the female introduced to the Women's Community House at the time of the abusive incident.
57. Did the female stay at the WCH
-104-
-g-
1-police took me therm 2-police told me about it 3-FC took me there 4-FC told me about it 5-friend or relative told me
about it 6-I'd been there before 7-other
1-no, just phoned for advice 2-no, just dropped in to talk 3-yes, for less than one week 4-yes, for 8 to 14 days 5-yes,for 15 days to 5 weeks 6-yes, for more than 5 weeks
58. How many times has the female been .there
59. Hcw helpful was the WCH 1-not at all helpful 2-not feelings 3-somewhat helpful 4-extremely helpful
60. What areas did they help the female most
61. Why did the female go to the WCH
62. Where else would the female have gone if the WCH had not been available
63. Has the female been in contact with the WCH since your involvement in January to June of 1979
1-Yes 2-No
64. What else could the WCH have done for the female
65. After the abusive incident, did the female mak% any inquiries concerning her legal options.
1-yes 2-no
67. Did the female contact the Justice of the Peace following the abusive incident. IF NO, PROCEED TO 169
68. What happened after the female contacm*he JP
22
23
24
25
-105-
-10-
66. If she did make enquiries, who did she ask
1-yes 2-no
1-she just phoned for advice 2-she didn't show up for
her appointrent 3-the JP advised her to lay
• charges 4-she laid a charge 5-she laid a charge but did. not go to the police . station.
6-police laid the charge 7-other
6g. What factors impeded the female's decision to lay a charge 1-none
2-lack of support from FC and police
3-lack of support from JP 4-lack of support from family
and friends 5-fear of retaliation 6-lack of knowledge about the
procedures 7-other
IF THE FEMALE DID NOT LAY A CHARGE, PROCEED TO ic Si IF N_ErIdER Fr:MALE .CR POLICE LAID C ARC; , g :=4,- dm
70. wnat factors facilitated the femalesdecision to lay a charge
71. Who advised the female to lay a charge against her partner
1-support from police 2-support from FCs 3-support from JP 4-support from family and
fri ends 5-fear for her own life 6-fear for lives of children 7-other
1-her own decision 2-police 3-Family Consultants 4-lawyer 5-family or friends 6-other
• • --10i-
-1 1-
25
27
28
29
30
31
32
1-yes 2-no
1-assault causing bodily harm 2-common assault 3-threatening 4-other
72. Old anyone advise the female not to lay a charge
73. Old anyone advised the female to reduce the charge(s)
74. How long after the abusive incident did the • emale see the JP
1-no • 2-police
3-FC 4-JP 5-Lawyer 6-family and friends 7- other
1-n6 2-police 3-FC 4-JP 5-lawyer 6-family and friends 7-other
1-same day 2-one day 3-2-4 days 4-4-7 days 5-over a week 6- over 2 weeks
75. Old the male know that the female was going to lay a charge
76. Which charge did the female lay
77. Old the female feel that she 1-no support at all had the support and understanding 2-minimal support of the JP 3-indefference
4-some support 5-comp1ete support
- 78. Oid the JP clear up any confusions that the female had regarding the 1-yes charge and its implications 2-no
79. What else could the JP Have done for the female
33 80. Did the female withdraw the charge
If yes, why?
Li 34
85. Pcw does the female feel about the length of time it took 1-too short
2-just right 3-too long 4-much too long 8-not applicable
-107-
. -12-
1-yes 2-no 8-not applicable
1-it was part of the plea bargaining
2-I was afraid 3-I did not want to harm my partner
4-he prcmised not to dolt again
5-I didn't want anyone to know
6-it wouldn't have done any good
7-other 8-not applicable
Il 81.T
ee+Was the female treated by the 1-no support at all Crown 2-minimal support
3-indifference 4-some support 5-complete support
82. Does the female think that she spent enough tir e along with the 1-yes . Crownr for both of them to have a 2-no good understanding of the case.
83. What else could the Crown have done for the female
D 35
36
84. How long after the assault was the matter settled in court
"Ea El 37 38
39
40
88. •During this time, was the female worried about her par:ner abusing her.
87. During the time the case was being heard l did the partner abuse or threaten to abuse the female.
weeks.
1- yes 2- no
1-no 2-threatened to abuse me S-did abuse me once 4-abused me more than once 41
91. Does the female feel that it would have been better . for her if sheKed had a lawyer with her
. , ever, 92. Was the remaleAmeoe to 7E131 that what she was doing was wrong
43
45
46
47
-108-
-13-
88. If the female was abused or 1-yes -threatened during this time 2-no dcee:Fie think that it could 8-not applicable have been prevented if the delay had been shorter
89. Was the partner found guilty 1- yes 2-no 8-not applicable
90. If he was found guilty, how does the female feel about the sentence
1-no 2-yes, just for advice 3-yes, just to sit in court with me
4-yes, throughout the process 5-other
1-no 2-yes,.before the trial 3-yes, during the trial 4-yes, after the trial 5-yes, all the time 6-yes, that is why I withdrew
the charge
93. What effect did the court action v• • 1-helped to increase the have on the partner's abusiveness frequencey and/or severity
of abuse 2-no effect 3-reduced the frequency and/or severity of abuse
4-completely terminated the abuse
94. Of all the people that the female was in contact with, who helped the female most
95. Who was the least helpful
1-police 2-Family Consultants 3-Women's Community House 4-JP 5-Crown 6-other
1-police 2-Family Consultants 3-Women's Community House 4-j? 5-Crown 6-other
—109-; -14-
96. Who knew the most about the female's situation
I-police 2-Family Consultants 3-Women's Community House 4-JP 5-Crown 6-other
97. How could the legal process be improved to help other abused women
49
-110—
Appendix
Selected Case Histories
from Researcher's Interviews with Abused Females
—111—
Case 43159
A et. separated from her husband following an attack in 1980. She did not go ta stay with family or friends because she felt that their lives would be in danger; instead, she went to the Women's Community House and after the male started phoning there and threatening the staff, she decided to lay an assault charge. The Justice of the Peace issued a warrant for the male's arrest. At the first court appearance, the male told the judge that he had - had a nervous breakdown and, therefore, he beat his wife. The male was sent to the London Psychiatric Hospital for a 30-day assessment and during this time, the male's family removed all the furniture and belongings from the couple's apartment. The male was found guilty of common assault and placed on probation for one year (he saw his probation officer three times).
Case #3164
B. has been waiting three years for her divorce case to be heard in court. She is terrified for her life and is currently seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication. The two children are not allowed to play outside on weekends for fear of the male kidnapping them. The male is constantly harassing the female by driving by the house, breaking into the house, and attending social functions that she attends. The female had been assaulted approximately 250 times before her separation and has been threatened with a shotgun,:and -choked since. She is totally frustrated with the criminal justice system and feels that she is capable of taking the matter into her own hands by killing her husband.
Case #4004
C. has been divorced from the abusive male for three years. During the five-year marriage and two-year separation, the female was assaulted 40 times and the police were called on many of these occasions. The female separated when their son was old enough (three years old) to tell her that her husband was having sex with him. The child would scream when left along with the male and would spend hours in the corner with a blanket over his head.
Following their separation, the male constantly harassed the female by phoning her, breaking into the house, and parking outside her house. He has attempted to take the children but the female has physically prevented him from doing so. The female feels that she had a nervous breakdown during this time but has since recovered her strength. She is currently enrolled in college courses. The male's second wife now phones the female to get help for the abuse she is receiving from the male.
- 112-
Case 43161
1. has been assaulted 13 times by:+husband and uring the inter-view, she was extremely self-conscious about hiding :ne scars on her head tnat she received in an attack. Following an assault in 1979, she left her husband and moved into her own apartment. The male found out where she was living and harassed her and kept breaking in. Finally the female let him stay. In 1980, the male threw their three-year-old son against a wall, knocking him unconscious. He phoned the police and an ambulance, and was not charged. Following another incident of assault on the female, the police laid a charge of assault cauSing bodily harm but she refused to testify against her partner and the case was dismissed.
Although there has been no violence in the past year, the female feels that this 'quiet period" is temporary and that theblow-up" will te very severe: she is always afraid.
Case 43131
aoth Mr. and Mrs. J. participated in the interview with the male translating the questions into an European language far the female. The couple have been married for 20 years. The female has been assaulted seven times and the last incident involved the male beating the female with a belt. He was arrested by police to prevent a further breach of the peace and was placed in jail overnight. The Family Consultants told her about the 'di:glen's Community House but she refused to go. Another European family convinced her to lay assault causing bodily harm and threatening charges against her husband. The male was given a suspended sentence and was ordered not to attempt any communication with the female for a period of one year.
The male reported that the night in jail and the restriction from seeing his wife scared the male and made him feel that what he did was wrung.
Case 43106
K. has been severely beaten by her partner three times. They have been separated for two years but he continues to break into the female's apartment. The female is concerned about the emotional well-being of their 13 year-old daughter who lies awake at night waiting for more violence.
The male is now out west and the female does not think he will return because he would have to face three impaired driving charges. The female still loves her husband and will take him back if he quits drinking.
-113-
Case #3188
D. Is in her sixties and she is still being abused by her husband. The last major attack occurred in 1980 when the male broke her arm (among other injuries) and threatened her with a knife. While she was in the hospital, a social worker convinced her to make some decisions about her future. She threatened to leave the male and went to visit her family on the east coast for a month. Following her trip she returned to the male and things have settled down. D. tries to stay out of her husband's way when he is drinking and places few demands on him.
Case #1013
E. has been separated from the abusive male for two years. Following an incident in 1979 during which she was severely beaten and the male threatened suicide with a knife in front of the children, she feld to Mission Services Family Apartments, with the two young children. E. initiated custody proceedings during this time and her husband grabbed the children from the school, even though the female was granted interim custody. The female did not know where they were for three weeks. In an attempt . to get her children back, E. went to the male's house where she was threatened and repeatedly raped.
The judge ordered BOTH the male and female to see a psychiatrist in order to determine which one was a fit parent. While they were waiting for the court's decision, the male continually phoned the children, threatening suicide if they didn't go with him. After reading the psychiatrists' reports, the judge alledgedly felt that the male was unstable and that E. was a totally competent mother; however, he gave the children to the father because if the male did not get them, the female and the children would be under constant threat of violence.
E. believes that the male has been committing incest with their 11-year-old dauchter for a period of time and is continuing to do so. Both children are terrified of their father. The male's new girlfriend called the police from the female's home because she had been beaten up when she caught the male having sex with her 15-year-old sister.
The female is extremely upset about being apart from her children and is concerned about their emotional well-being.
-114- •
Case #3287
H.R. has been divorced from her partner for two years. Ouring her six-year marriage she was beaten up once a week*Approximately 300 times. Prior to the divorce, H.R. left Mr. R. but returned because she didn't have enough money to sustain herself and his three babies. Following an attack in 1976, Mr. R. was taken to the London Psychiatric Hospital by police and Family Consultants. When he was released 15 days later he'eame much more violent because he would not take his-medication. Mr. R. is also an alcoholic.
One time when a neighbour visited H.R.(she was not allowed visitors) Mr. R. attacked his wife with a knife. The neighbour phoned the police and Mr. R. was told to spend the night at his brother's house. The police stayed in the vicinity of H.R. until 5 a.m. As soon as they left, Mr. R. came home and did not go to work for three days, holding H.R. captive inside the house. Mr. R. had made numerous threats to the lives of the twin boys and continually molested their 8-year-old daughter.
H.R. laid common assault and threatening charges against Mr. R. in 1976, but withdrew them following threats. She applied for another recognizance to keep the peace in 1979 and Mr. R. was ordered to enter the recognizance, but no conditions were added.
When H.R. filed for divorce, Mr. R. wanted to sell the house and keep the children. The judge told Mr. R. that he would have to see a psychologist's report before he would even consider giving custody to Mr. R.; consequently, Mr. R. gave up the children.
During the two weeks prior to the interview, Mr. R. had been phoning a friend of H.R., pleading with her to ask H.R. to come back to him.
Case #3210
Mrs. L. has received emergency medical treatment for a variety of injuries she received from her husband, including smashed teeth and attempted strangulation. She had left her husband for a period of four months but subsequently returned to him.
One night in 1979„ Mr. L. and Mrs. L's brother came home drunk and started smashing all of the furniture and hitting Mrs. L. She called the police who took her away in the paddywagon and left the children with her drunken husband. Mrs. L. was taken to her mother's home and twenty minutes later, Mr. L. drove by the house a number of times, shoutjng obscenities at his wife. He went home and attempted suicide by slitting his wrists. Mrs. L. was called back to the home to get her -children.
Mrs. L. is currently seeing a psychiatrist and social worker on a week and she does not know ho w she Survived through the violent period of her relationship. She reports that Mr. L. is much better now and is attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
—113-
Case #5004
S. has been separated from the abusive male for two months. Two years ago the female tried to separate from her husband and went to Legal Aid for assistance. She was denied the financial help because she had applied for help 11 years ago, although she never used the service. S. laid an assault charge in 1979 because the police said that they would not take her seriously unless she did. After five months of court postponements, she succumbed to pressure from the male and his family, and withdrew the charge.
When the male found out that the female was pregnant with their second child, he left to live with his girlfriend. Five months later he phoned S. from jail and asked her to bring bail money; he had held a gun to his girlfriend's head. No charges were laid. Later that night, his girlfriend killed herself and the male and female were on the run for the next month because he was afraid that his name was mentioned in the suicide note and that his girlfriend's husband would be angry when he found it.
The male will not admit that he had any problems but has convinced the female to see numerous counsellors. She has been threatened with a knife, assaulted six times, and had the tires on her car slashed. She is extremely afraid of the male and continues to see him (at his request) for fear of what he can do to her.
Case #3201
T. has been separated from the male for one year. The male finally agreed to leave when the female attempted to choke him following a severe assault on her. When the male started assaulting her soon after they were married, the female went to see a psychiatrist because she was feeling suicidal. The male refused to see a marriage counsellor even after the police suggested it. The female had been thrown down the stairs when she was eight months pregnant. Even when they were separated, the male knocked her down some stairs while she was holding her son. The female believes that the son was traumatized by the violence, even though he was very young at the time (he is now four years old).
Case #1006
Ms. R. has been separated from her husband for 11/2 years and had been assaulted approximately 600 times by him. It was usually a neighbour or her daughter that phoned the police. Whenever the police arrived, Mr. R. would sober up and would not allow the officers to came
into the house. She believes that Mr. R's sexual problema (impotency) plus alcoholism, contributed to his violence.
Ms. R's boyfriend started a threatening case against Mr. R. and he was ordered to enter a recognizance to keep the peace. The recognizance expires ar. the end of tnis month and Ms. R. is concerned :hat the threats will start all over again.
—116—
Case 44003
Q. is presently living with her partner whom both she and her husband's psychiatrist describe as a 'psychopath'. In 1979, the male was destroying a lot of furniture and kicked a lame over on his wife, resulting in a large gash to her head. She charged her partner on this occasion and also for an incident one month earlier when he tried to push her out of a moving vehicle. The male was found guilty of attempting to push her out of the vehicle and was given a conditional discharge. For the other incident, he was found not guilty on the defence that he couldn't have known for sure that the lamp would strike his wife.
Following the assault mentioned above, Q. and her three children moved into a motel for two weeks. Later they rented a condominium. Three months after that the male talked Q. into attending joint therapy sessions with his psychiatrist. Two months later the male moved into her apartment.
When Q. was assaulted again in 1980, she sent a letter concerning the assault to hèr family doctor and her lawyer, just in case any-thing ever happened to her. Q. believes that the male is still very dangerous and refuses to be alore with him for long periods of time. Two of the three children have left him in order to be away from the male. He continues to drink heavily, has no friends, and experiences a cycle of violence and calm. Q. controls his behaviour, to a certain extent, by threatening to lay another assault charge. They have never spoken about the court case in 1979.
Case #3193
R. has been separated for two years from a male who abused her approximately 150 times. Following the incident in 1979, she stayed in a motel for two days, and then with her brother for two weeks. The male continues to harass and threaten her. Recently, the male threw a wrench through the front window. The male is unemployed, has a serious drinking problem, and does not have any friends. The female does not believe that she will ever be rid of this male. The only thing that he is afraid of is getting locked up in jail.
Case #1011
Mrs. H. has been separated from her husband for nine months and expects that her divorce proceedings will be completed within the next few months. Ouring the marriage she was assaulted approximately twelve times. In 1979, Mr. H. spent about one week cleaning his gun and threatening'to kill Mrs. H. with it. One night he did hold her at gunpoint for several minutes. Mr. H. then left in the car with two guns, open liquor and the two small children. Mrs. H. called the police and her husband was arrested and placed in jail for 40 minutes. As soon as Mr. H. got out he started making threatening telephone calls to Mrs. H.
The interim custody of the children has been awarded to Mr. H. because Mrs. H. had a nervous breakdown in.1980 and attempted suicide at the time. She has seen a psychiatrist since and he told her that it was her husband who needed help.
r —117—
Case #3122
Mrs. W. has been assaulted approximately 100 times by her partner. One month before this interview, she was taken to the hospital and needed fourteen stitches to close a split in'her head. 'Mr. W. has spit on her and urinated on her numerous times.
In 1979, Mrs. W. went to court to make her husband enter a recog-nizance to keep the peace. She was told by a court official that she should not sleep with Mr. W. while the case was being heard. Mrs, W. withdrew from the proceedings when her husband moved out for three weeks.
In the past year, Mrs. W. obtained a job transfer and put her house up for sale. Although the house was in her name, she could not sell it because her husband would not sign the agreement. Mr. W. has had numerous affairs with young girls and, consequently, Mrs. W. feels very insecure about her own appearance. Mrs. W. has received four job promotions in nine months; however, instead of receiving praise from her partner, Mrs. W. is beaten up for being more successful than Mr. W. She has seen three psychiatrists and sees her workplace as her only haven. She will not call the police anymore because she is totally frustrated with the response she has received in the past from all agents of the system.
Case #3230
A.J. separated from her husband in 1979 following a severe assault and her divorce should be approved by May of 1921. On the night of the attack in 1979, A.J. fled from her house at 2 A.M., followed by her husband. She got to a girlfriend's house safely. Mr. J. phoned A.J. the next morning and threatened to kill himself and the two small children unless she returned immediatelY. She called the police who took her to get the children and she left the male.
Three days following the assault, A.J. laid charges of assault causing bodily haro and threatening. While A.J. was waiting to go to court, Mr. J. hired:a private detective to find his wife. .Mr. J. and his brother harassed the female outside her refuge until she called the police. A.J. had a nervous breakdown during this time and took an over dose of drugs. The children were taken from her and placed with the male's parents for three months (later she was given legal custody of the children).
A.J. does not know how she survived the ordeal but attributes her success to the support she received from community and criminal justice agencies, and her friends. Her six-year-old son is experiencing psychological difficulties as a result of the turmoil.
-113—
Case 44067
Mr. and Mrs. 0. are from the Maritimes and have been divorced for four years. The.male had an extensive criminal record including con-victions for indecent exposure, breach of probation, and use of a dangerous weapon which involved an incident ehere he threatened the female with a knife. He was granted custody of the children despite the rad: that the cnildren detested staying with him. The female became so concerned for her children that she took them during her access period and moved to Ontario where she got an apartment and a job as a machinist. Eight months later she was arrested by police in London on the charge of kidnapping and was flown back to the Maritimes. The kidnapping charges were dismissed and she was granted custody of the two children.
In 1979, the male followed her to London, where he broke into her apartment, tore the phone out of the wall and threatened to push her out the window. She subsequently charged the male with threatening and, during this time, she stayed with her brother for fear of the male. The case was dismissed. Since 1979, the male has committed a series of criminal offences in the Maritimes and is currently residing in a psychiatric institution.
Case #3229
Three years ago, P. obtained a court order giving her exclusive possession of the matrimonial home and custody of her daughter. The male has refused to leave. As a result of the physical and emotional abuse she received from her partner, P. had a nervous breakdown and took an overdose of drugs, resulting in an admission to the psychiatric unit at University Hospital for six weeks.
P. was assaulted and threatened by her partner in 1979 and sub-sequently phoned the police. She laid threatening charges but tried to withdraw them when she reeried that her husband's lawyer was going to use her history of psychiatric treatment against her, which he did.
P. is dissatisfied with the response she received from the criminal justice system. After her nervous breakdown, she had to quit her job of 15 years as a computer programmer but now feels the need to work again.
Case #3253
Mrs. X. is a university graduate from Europe and has known her husband since she was 10 years old. Her brother took her to the hespital because she had bruises on her entire body. She thinks that the hospital called the police and after waiting over an hour for them she cancelled the call. The next day, the police came to her house with a Family Consultant.
Mr. X. has a drinking problem and when he gets in one of his "angry moods", Mrs. X. either leaves the house or just agrees with everything he says. The male did not even know that Mrs. X. had called the police in 1979, until the night before this interview.
— 119—
Case #3156
B.B. has been separated from her husband for four months. They had separated once before in 1978 for a .period of one year. B.B. was assaulted five times during their marriage with each assault getting worse. In 1979, Mr. B. became very violent and literally beat up his wife. She left the house not knowing where she was going and the male followed her. He pursued her to a restaurant and then into the emergency department of a general hospital. While she was being examined by the doctors, her husband was asked to see a psychiatrist. The police laid the charge of assault causing bodily harm against Mr. B. and Mrs. B. was taken to the Women's Community House by a Family Consultant. She stayed there for one night and then went to her parents' home. When this case came to trial, Mrs. B. refused to testify and the charges were subsequently dropped.
Case #4060 .
The female has been beaten over 200 times during her 8 year marriage, and has called the police on many of these occasions. The male has never been able to talk about the beatings. The female decided to do something about the situation when her two sons were missing from school one day and were found crying in the library. The 17 year-old son used to try to defend his mother and would get beaten up as well. When the female left the male, he would come to
. her apartment very early in the morning and after making enough.noise to wake the neighbours up, the female would let him in and would subsequently be beaten up. The female was receiving help from a psychiatrist and convinced the male to see a family counsellor only once. Presently, the abuse is less frequent because the female avoids any issues that are controversial.
Case #3219
R.L. was remarried last year after spending nineteen years with her husband who broke every bone in her body, fractured her skull, knocked out her teeth, and stabbed her with a knife. Five years ago, her first husband broke both of her legs and she had to spend ten weeks in bed. As a result of her injuries, R.L. had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized for three months. She ordered the male to leave and he responded by attempting to overdose on her pills.
R.L.'s second husband had a drinking problem(like her first husband) until R.L. threatened to kick him out following an assault. Both R.L. and her husband have successfully quit drinking. R.L. has received at least SO shock treatments and is currently receiving help and medication from a psychiatrist.
-120-
Case 41018
G. started divorce proceedings following an assault in 1979 and she obtained her divorce in Oc:oper of 1980. The male fought far custody of their baby daughter in the hope of getting his wife back. While they were waiting for the outcome of the custody hearings, the male tried to kidnap his daughter. The male is now in Nova Scotia and is not forwarding any support payments to the female. G. had been assaulted numerous times by the male. One attack occurred when she was seven months pregnant and as a result of the attack, the baby was born prematurely, two days later, and had marks on her from the assault on her mother.
While the court was deciding the custody of the child, the male's lawyer instructed G. to let the father see the child every day, a demand which was very traumatic for the female. G. experienced six months of acute anxiety after she charged her partner with assault.
The male took off to Nova Scotia to live with his mother when he received his Summons ta appear in court on assault charges. A bench warrant was issued and three months later he was arrested when he was stopped for speeding.
Case 43100
M. is noW divorced from the abusive male. Following a very severe attack from her husband, the female called the police who laid an' assault causing bodily harm charge. The male continued to threaten the female during the court case and for manY months after the trial. He would phone the female, describe what the children wore'to school that day, and tell her where to find them in green garbage bags. The female had many friends to turn to at this time and the male's threatening behaviour was terminated only when a R.C.M.P. officer, who was also a friend of the female, warned the male.
Case 41020
M. was divorced in 1972 from a male who was experienced in the martial arts and who beat her numerous times. When their 11-year-old son beat her up(he was also experienced in the martial arts) the female threw him out of the house. The son has undergone extensive counselling: one of his most vivid memories is seeing his mother standing up against a wall with his father holding a loaded shotgun to her head.
In 1977, N. was cohabiting with a man who abused her at le at once a week. Practically every bone in her body has been broken. The male left and returned to Europe in 1980 when the female refused to finance him any more. The female believes that the police were the only agents she could involve in this situation since a follow-up of any kind would have only made the male more violent.
The female experienced profound fear during these relationshios and felt suicidal at some points.
— 121 —
Case #3257
U. is married to a man who is extremely violent and described as mentally ill. In the incident in 1979, the female was choked to unconsciousness. She strongly maintains that the male was 'sick' before, but is all better now. During his 'sick period', he assaulted her numerous times, was hospitalized in the London Psychiatric Hospital once and the Victoria Hosoial Psychiatry unit twice. During this period, which lasted approximatelY two years, the couple would go without eating for many days and often the male would go to the Men's Mission for dinner and bring some donuts home for the female's dinner. The female was working at a very menial job and felt extremely disheartened when she came home to find the male talking to himself for hours. He now has a factory job and appears to be going through a calm phase.
Case =1068
V. had been separated from her husband for one year when he phoned and threateOed to use a shotgun to blow off her head and their eleven year-old son's head. She phoned the police, and then phoned the male's psychiatrist(the male had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic). The female went to see the Justice of the Peace the next day, and a warrant was issued under Section 9 of the Mental Health Act. As a result, the male was hospitalized at the Victoria Hospital Psychiatric Unit for seven days.
Since 1979, the male has been in Victoria Hospital three times and the London Psychiatric Hospital once. He is now living out west. As a result of the abuse she received, the female took an 'overdose of drugs during the marriage. Her son also had difficulty coping with the male's abusiveness and received help from a child psychologist.
Case =3223
Mr. W. had left home one month prior to the interview and has not contacted the female since. She is trying to serve him with a petition for divorce.
When Mrs. W. called the police in 1979, the male had assaulted the female and proceeded to damage most of the furniture. When he stumbled (he was very drunk) the female fled with her daughter to a pay telephone. Mr. W. was never interviewed by police and Mrs. W. stayed at her mother's house for the night. Previous injuries to the female include a gash on her face made with a knife and a broken bone under her eye from a punch.
The male is a severe alcoholic and has recently lost his job. The female's family doctor recommended that she see a psychiatrist (she has seen two) and the male asserts that she is crazy and that he has no problems. As the female has become more assertive (i.e. working part-time, obtaining a driver's licence) the male has become more vicious and drinks more neavily. The female feels that if she had not gone out to work, she wouldn't have survived.
-122-
Case #3125
M.7. has been separated from her hustand for 21-z years and hates to reach a divorce settlement this fall. Currently, she does volunteer work at AL4non and credits this organization for pulling her througn the abuse. Mr. 7. has been diagnosed as both an alcoholic and a
• psychopath. A short time before they separated, M.T. decided that she was not
going to take the abuse any more, which was usually sexual and emotional. When Mr. T. realized his wife was not going to be hit, he started abusing the children - that is when she left with the three kids.
Although, Mrs. T. was the sole owner of the house, her lawyer told her that she to leave to be free frum her husband. She did leave but later decided that she wanted the house, so she moved back in (with the children) and moved Mr. T. out.. Mr. T. returned to the house and proceeded to assault M.T. She called the police and believes that if some friends hadn't been there, she would have been killed.
The children have been very upset by their father's aggression and have seen a child psychologist. M. 7, initially agreed that Mr. T. could have access to the children; now they refuse to see him so she is taking the access matter to court. M.T. feels that Mr. 7. only wants to see the children so that he has an opportunity to harass her.
-123-
APPEUDIX
SUPPLEM=TARY INFORMATION FROM :NTERVEWS WITH ABUSED
FEMALES
Less than half (41%) of the inzervieweà females
were living with the male who assaulted them in 1979. The
average educational level of the females and males was
Grades 11 and 10, respectively. Sixty-six percent of the
females and SO% of males have been working in the last
two Years. Table 9 shows the occupational classfications
and the most common occupation of both the males and the
females involved skilled labour. The average income was
$12,000 to $15,999 and fifty-three of the females (90%)
had an average of two children. In 26 cases . (47%), custody
of the children had to be assigned by the court and the
females were awardedcustody 92% of the time.
The females were asked if the male had any
problems which contributed to his violent nature: twenty-
six percent believed that alcohol was the only factor;
forty-five percent cited emotional or psychological difficulties
as the problem; psychiatric disorders were seen as contributors
in 7% of the cases; and uncontrollable tempers and financial
stress were each mentioned as facilitors cf violence by
10% of the females. The recovery rate for these problems
is aLmost as poor as it is for the males' drinking behaviour
patterns such that 66% of the prcblems have gotten worse
47 Tata I 100 39 100
Males mrequency r‘ercentage Or
Working Ma l es()
Females Frequency Percentage of(%1
Working Femalee Job Classification»
Professional/Managerial I
Professional/Managerial I/
Semi-Professional
Skilled .
Senti-Ski lied
Unskilled
Housewife
2
11
7
16
5
4
4.2
23.4
14.9
34.0
10.6
8.5
erle
4
7
12
6
9
2
•
10.2
17.9
30.8
15.4
23.1
5.1
—124—
Table 9
Occupational Classifications of
Working Males and Females
4C1assifications were made accor.ding to Eollingshead, 1933
-125-
remained the same s .;n^e 1 979.
Most of the females (77%) had contacted other
social and community agencies, besides the criminal
justice system, to cet help with the violence they were
experiencing. Thirteen women (21%) contacted one agency,
fourteen (23%) contacted two agencies, and another 13 (21%)
were in touch with three or more agencies. Table 10
lists the types of community agents or agencies that the
females contacted. Two-thirds of the women received some
fo rm of psychiatric treatment or psychological assessment/
intervention in the community, while an additional 28%
received some other type of counselling.
Ninety-seven percent of the females indicated
that they reached some breaking point when they decided
that they were not going to take the abuse any more.
Twenty-two percent of the females called the police at this
point, thirty-one percent left their partners, nine percent
did nothing, and seven percent attempted suicide.
In order to determine the appropriateness of
certain services which abused women receive, marticularly
criminal justice, the interviewed females were asked their
opinions about the interventions they received and to make
recommendations as to what could be done for other abused
women. Twenty-seven respondents (43%) felt that the os
did not respond quickly enough and 30 females (61% wanted
,••••••••
Percentage of Total Females Interviewed*
(%) N=62
Type of Agency Contacted Number of Females Contacting Agency
Psychiatry unit of a general hospital or psychiatrist in private practice
Family doctor
Family or marriage'counsellor
Family & Children's Services
Psychologist
Financial assistance agency
Other services foechildren (e.g., psychiatric facility, juvenile detention, etc.)
Emergency Housing
Provincial Psychiatric Hospital
Priest
Other
24
19
17
12
11
10
8
5
4
3
4
38.7
30.6
27.4
19.4
17.7
16.1
12.9
8.1
6.4
4.8
6.4
—125—
Table I
Number of Interviewed Fraies Who Contacted Various Community 4encies
*The percentage total is greater than 100% since subjects could respond to more than one choice.
-127-
the officer to lay a charge: the officers laid assault
charges in three cases. Twenty-one (34%) of the alleged
assailants had left before the police arrived. The females
felt that the officers were more supportive of the males
in 25 (40%) cases and most supportive of the victim in
10 (16%) instances. Table 11 shows what these females
wanted the police officers to do when they arrived at the
scene of the assault. Nearly one-third of the women wanted
the male arrestedand 29% of the women wanted the officer
to remove the male from the premises. Eight victims just
wanted someone to stop the violence.
The females' responses as to what the police should
have done for them or should be doing for other females
in the saine situation are show in Table 12. The females'
most frequent recommendation was that the investigating
officer separate the couple for at least a few hours in the
following ways: forty-eight percent of the females suggested
that the male should be removed from the house or placed
in jail overnight; failing that, the officer should ensure
that the female gets out of the house safely or advise her
about emergency shelter for abused women.
:f the female decides that she wants to lay an
assault or threatening charge against her partner, she
must attend an interview with the justice of the peace in
Fam'ly Court. Table 13 shows the females' responses to what
-122-
Table 11
Abused Females' Expectations of Police Before They Arrived
At The Scene of the Assault By Frequency and Percent
N = 62
Females' Expectations Before Frequency Percent Police Arrived CO
Remove male'from premises 20 32
Arrest male 18 29
Just stop the violence 8 13
Keep male off premises 3 3
Threaten the male 2 3
Remove children from the home 2 3
Did not think police could help 2 3
Allow female to collect her belongings 1 1.6
Other 3 5
■••••••••
TABLE 12
Abused Females' Responses to
What Police Officer Should Have Done for
Then and What Should be Done in the Future by Frequency
and Percent N=62
Female's Suggestion Frequency* Percent(%)'.
(a) Did all they could 16 25.8
(b) Remove male from premises 23 37.0
(o) Office: should be more understanding 19 30.6
(d) Should not treat female like 12 19.3 criminal or fool
(e) Officer should not view these incidents as mere "domestic squabbles" 9 14.5
(f) Give male some information regarding 8 12.9 counselling
(g) Place male in jail overnight 7 11.3
(h) Advise famale about emergency 6 9.7 shelters
(i) Conduct seine type of follow-up 6 9.7 with family
(j) Make sure female (and children) 5 8.1 get out of the house safely
(k) Officer should at least talk to 6 9.7 the male
(1) Should not assure female provoked 6 9.7 attack .
(m) Family Consultants should have 5 8.1 been called
(n) Officer should not incite male 3 4.8 to hit him (male only angrier when police leave)
(o) Advise male that wife abuse is wrong 3 4.8
(p) Officer should threaten the male 2 3.2
(q) Advise female about laving her own assault charges
Fr=cuencv total exceeds 62 and the mercentage total exoeeds 100% since su'Ojects could respond to more than one category.
—130--
Table 13
Suggestions From Twenty-six kused Females Who Laid Charges
.1,s To What the Justice of the Peace Should Have Done cr Should Do
In the Future By Frequency and Percent M=26 .
Female's Response Frequency * Percent* (%)
(a) Old all they could 13 SO
(b) Should treat the female like 10 28.5 a person with rights
(c) Try to assess the situation 2 7.7 more aCcurataly
(d) Assist the female in obtaining 1 3.8 legal aid
(e) Should not take the male's side 1 3.8
(f) Female should only have to go to 2 7.7 JP's office once
(g) Case histories should be taken 1 3.8 by JP instead of police
* Frequency and percentage totals exceeds 25 and 100% respectively, since respondents were allowed to make more than one recommendation.
-131-
the justice of the peace should have done for them. Fifty
percent felt that they were not treated fairly by the
justice of the peace and were not supported by this agent.
The other fifty percent felt that the justice of the peace
did all (s)he could.
After a charge has been laid, the female is
subpeonaed to court for the first court appearance when she
meets thé Crown attorney. The female must return to court
an aVerage of three times. Five (19%) of the 26 interviewed
women who went to court had asked the Crown to withdraw
the charge: two of these women wanted to protect their
partners, one withdrawal was part of a plea-bargaining
arrangement, and another male had promised the victim that
he would reform.
What the26 females felt that the Crown should have .
done for them is found in Table 14. Nearly 40% of the women
expressed a need for the Crown to talk to them before going
into the courtroom and a further 12% felt that the investigation
should have been more complete. A lack of support from the
Crown was endorsed by 56% of the females laying charges.
The Women's Community House in London, Ontario
is an emergency shelter for abused women where they can live
with their children for a maximum of six weeks. Only
twenty-two of the females (35%) were aware that the shelter
existed and ten C16%) subsequently contacted the house - two
-132-
Table 14
Responses From Abused Females Who Laid Charges
As To What The Crown Attorney Should Have Oone '
Or Should Do In the Future by Frequency and Percent
N=26
Female's Response Frequency Percent (%)
' (a) Oid all they could 9 34.6
(b) Talk to the female before court 10 38.5
(c) Provide encouragement/moral 5 19.2 • support to the victim .
(d) Should be more prepared 3 11.5 (conduct a better investigation)
(e) Ask judge for more conditions of • 3 11-.5 -- probation or recognizance
* Frequency and percentage totals exceed 25 and 100% respectively, since respondents were allowed to make more than one recommendation.
-133-
females just phone for advice, three went to the house to
talk to someone, and the remaining five staved at the
house for a period ranging from a few days to six weeks.
Ninety percent of the females were satisfied with the
intervention they received from the Women's Community
House and four of these females (40 ) have contacted the
shelter since their initial contact.
The sixty-two females were asked to make general
recommendations to the various community and criminal
justice agencies suggesting ways in which they could assist
other females who are abused by their male partners.
These responses are depicted in Table 15. The most
frequent recommendation was theneed for counselling for
the males (50), the females (39%) and the children (11%).
One-quarter of the women felt that there should be more
shelters for abused women. In addition, the existence of
these shelters and the rights of females in eeneral should
be publicized more widely (32%). Forty-eight percent of
the respondents recommended assisting the females both
financially and legally in obtaining separations and
divorces. Finally, nine females (15%)suggested that all
agents should be more understanding and 16% of the females
recommended that the police somehow prevent the male from
continuing his harassment and abuse.
—134—
Table 13
General Recommendations from Victims of Family.Violence By Frequency and Percent
N=62
Females' ecommendation Frequency Percent Pn
(a) Psychiatric treatment/counselling 31 EC.0 for males
(h) Provide counselling for females 24 38.7
(c) Provide more shelters for abused women 15 24.2
(d) Easier access to divorce, custody 16 25.8 support, etc.
(e) Increase public awareness of women's 20 32.2 rights thr;ough the media, educational system, etc. (also advertise available resources
(f) All agents must listen to the female, not 9 14.5 assume she is at fault, and understand her feelings of helplessness and terror
• (g) Attempt to prevent the male from 7 11.3 threatening and harassing the female, espectally when they are separated
(h) Ease financial burden on women who want 9 14.5 to separate'
(I) Involve family crisis intervention 6 9.7 workers in all female assault cases
(j) Shorten the court process for these cases 5 8.1
(k) Need more females as agents in the 4 6.4 criminal justice system
(1) Provide counselling for the children 7 11.3
(m) Police should increase surveillance 3 4.8 on houses where abuse is known
(n) Give the male a strong message that wife 6 9.7 abuse is wrong
(0) Need more preventative measures 6 9.7
(p) Easier access to Legal Aid 5 8.1
(q) Provide legal representation for abused 2 3.2 women
APPENDIX —135—
THE NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN
A female who has been physically assaulted Presents a complex array of
needs, ail of which should be identified and addressed in order to intervene
in both the immediate and long-term effects of violence. Piecemeal services
only prove to be frustrating for the victim and reflect a narrow.focus on
the problem. One of the most important needs of the abused woman is immediate
protection from assaultive or threatening behaviour. Police officers are usually
called in to perform this service but their assistance most often involves
talking to the victim and assailant, ensuring that no violence occurs in their
presence, and then leaving the scene. This type of action leaves the female
who called the police feeling even more isolated and helpless because she
often is expecting that the police will ensure her safety for a lancer period
of time.
If an abused woman has been injured, she will require some form of medical
treatment, ranging from a general examination to a period of hospitalization.
Unfortunately, many women who are assaulted by their partners will not attend
such services due to embarassment about the incident, feelings of hopelessness,
or threats from her assailant.
Another area of need for the abused woman is emotional counselling and
support which can ideally be provided by most community professionals. The trauma
of the most recent incident of abuse and the intimidation of future attacks,
often serves ta immobolize the female in fear or produce strong denial of the
violent episode and its implications. Since the violence destroys many of the
female's most esteemed values such as love and martial harmony, she may feel
that her situation is hopeless. The hopelessness may be fos:ered by feelings
—136—
THE NEEDS OF SATTERED WOMEN (don't)
that the violence was provoked and deserved by the victim. For some women,
the tehaviour may be defined as too deviant ta talk about, or within the noms
pf marital interactions and, therefore, not worthy of outside intervention.
Talking to an understanding professional allows an abused woman to acceot wnat
has happened to her, release the pent-up hurt and anger, and woK towards new
solutions to the problem.
The victim of family violence is unlike most other crime victims in the
sense that in order to remove herself frcm her assailant, she must also leave
her home, her belongings and sometimes her children. Consequently, the abused
female often has to look to the community to provide the basic needs of shelter
and food. Usually, the shelter provided is temporary ranging from a period of
one day to over a month, so that, inevitably, the abused woman has to make a
choice between returning to her home and, therefore, her assailant, or finding
a place of her own. Since many victims are economically dependent on the
assailant, this period can be extremely difficult. Many females are forced to
' return to the violent situation, due to lack of assistance in setting up their
own homes. Therefore, housing must be considered as an essential service to
the fleeing family members.
If an abused woman has decided to leave her partner, she needs to be able
to support herself (and sometimes her children). In many cases public assistance
is required as an interim step - to economic independence. Then, it is often
necessary for the female to upgrade her education or receive skill -acquisition
training and job counselling, so that she may compete in the job market. These
types of programs are presently available and more abused women require information
about access to them.
-137—
THE NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN (can't)
Although assaulting another person is a criminal act, few aoused women call
the police and even fewer pursue criminal charges. Those females who do turn to
the courts for protection often need legal advice regarding their options and
the probaole consequences of any action. Except for cases involving the mos:
serious injuries, the victim must lay her own charges, attend court, and testify
against her partner who is usually threatening her with retaliation: Other
abuse females who may require legal assistance are those who wish to separate
from or divorce their assailants. Since this action involves a civil proceeding,
the female is required to retain a lawyer, often through legal aid services.
It is apparent, then, that an effective response to the victim of family
violence involves much more than bandaging the wounds, if the desired goal is
the termination and prevention of further violence; however, the needs of abUsed
women are not entirely unique since many other citizens also require police
protection, housing, etc. Therefore, one would expect that these women could .
be easily assisted by existing agencies and services. Unfortunately, «there
are a number of factors which impede the delivery of adequate services to abused
females. Traditional responses from the criminal justice, mental health, medical,_
and social service systems, as well as the victims perception of this response,
reflect a number of inadecipacies which resurm from inappropr'iaze attitudes,
philosophies, policies e and practices.
APPENDIX L
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROV:NG TRADITIONAL RESPONSES
(a) The Medical System
AL:tough' abused women receive adequate :r---atment of pys icai
injuries, ttey are seldom identified as victims o.f farnily viclence
1:temedica1 prbfessionals4Researchers recommend that doctors listen more
carefully to these victims, approach the problem sympathetically, and offer
apprtpriate advice (Pahl, 1979). Furthermore, doctors must be informed of the
variety of resources in the community which can offer specialized services to
the victims and, consequently, must make more referrals to these sources (Pahl,
1979; Ramrattan et al. 1 1980). It is also important that medical practitioners
keep careful records of cases of abused women which can be used for the purpose
of court testimony (Fromson, 1978; Pahl, 1979). Finally, medical practitioners
must realize the importance of identifying cases where domestic violence is
involved, thus minimizing the possibility of treating secondary or superficial
symptoms only.
(b) The Mental Health System
Recommendations for improving the response of mental health professionals
to abused women are similar to those suggested for the medical system, such as
listening more closely to the victim, providing support, directly asking about
the abuse at intake, and acknowledging abuse as more than a superficial problem
(King, 1981; Ramrattan et al., 1980). Another important step in improving the
effectiveness of the mental health system's response to abused women entails the
practitioner c1arifying his awn values and attitudes about wife abuse as well as
increasing his awareness of the prevalence, causes and consequences of this
type of violence (King, 1981).
-139-
It has been suggested that traditional psycnia:ric interpretation of this
phenomenon be abandoned (Dobashe, 1979; Fleming, 1979) and, instead, a combination
of behavioural, insight-oriented, feminist therapy should be used in counselling
the abused female (Walker, 1978). In addition, if the female wishes to stay with
the batterer, therapy should focus on strengthening her independence and equality
with the relationship (Chapman, 1979).
Therapeutic intervention with abusive males is rarely attempted because
the male is usually unwilling to receive counselling and techniques for controlling
violent behaviour are not yet fully developed, îlthough some programs for abtusiv
males have 1peen established in the United States, evaluations of -these
programs have not beenccompleted.
(c) The Social Service System
The most effective way that social workers and counsellors can improve
their response to abused women is by attempting to identify abuse cases and
directly asking the vicmén if violence is involved in their relationships
(King, 1981; Nichols, 1976; Ramrattan et al., 1980; Rounsaville, 1979; Star, 1980).
Social workers should also resensitize themselves to the existence and impact of
violence with the development of in-service training (Star, 1980). Clients have
to be informed about other relevant resources in the community and referrals must
be made to these sources of assistance (Ramrattan et al., 1980). Another im-
portant aspect of the social worker's intervention involves exploring with the
7Jomen her alternatives to living with the abusive male as well as the impact
of violence on children.
••■•■•••■■
smommwerk.
sm.
Aooroximate Number of qeferrals
■■■•••■••■7
rice of Acencv
AiePENDIX ar5roter Jo Attpun r.alrN (lursylnemr?r
—140— 1. Please indicate your profession:
physician osycniatrist osychologist 7uolic nealtF7717-se
oceI worxer teunsellor clerly remoer other
Z. In the oast year, acurlxleate;! «tcw -anv of your ol.amcs re.00rtea a seeclfic incident or a n/stcry jf :ntarocousai /Toiemca?
4urnaer :,rcentace of :elte4it'l
(a) Female vic:*.ms (b) Female assailants (c) Mate victims (d) Male assailanos
3. Row often is flnily violence the primary concern or eresenting oroblem of these females or nales?
never a few times . often always not anolicibie
4. %Diet ...Yee of intervention CO you find eost effective in responding tot
(1) Owed females?
(ilY abusive ales?
5(a) *e you ever refer aoused women te ether agenc es or ercfessicns?
yes nO net applicable
(b) If you have race referrals. clease inoicate the type of agency and OPrOaimate numoer of referrals in the east year:
b. *Have your or your agency exoerienced any pi-et:liens in dealing with abused females or abusive sales?
7. Co you see the need for more.specialized community resources for responding tO:
(i) abused females? yes no___
(11) aousive males? yea-- na-
Meese specify
S. Co you feel that there is a need for imeroved =ordination t.etween the criminal justice system and other community agencies and orofessionals?
yes_
:laments and Suggestions
Thant you for comoletinn tais survey. ir ../ou m4ve Inv acitional cements, 'lease feel free te .a se the reverse side of the :age.
(10
DRKFT
APPENDIX N -141-
Memo to: ALL RANKS
From: :nspector, Court Services Branch
Subject: Assault Commi-m'nts
1. Commencing immediately, charges are to be laid by our Force in all cases where there are reasonable and probable grounds revealed in the investigation. The practice of directing the victim to lay private informations is to cease.
2. Charges of common assault and assault cauSing bodily ha rm are to be laid in,the Family Division Cf the Provincial Court only when the assault occurs between members living together in the same dwelling unit as a family.
3. All other assault charges are to be laid in the Criminal Division of the Provincial Court.
4. Wounding charges are to.be laid in the Provincial Court (Criminal Division) when injury is caused - by the use of an instrument.
B. The occurrence report and the charge sheets must indicate the relationship between the victim and the assailant.
J. J. Robinson Inspector Court Services Branch
-142-
APPENDIX 0
Memo to: ALL RANKS
F-om: :nspector, Court Services 3ranch
Subject: Assault investigations
Further to mv memo of 81 03 08 directing investigations into assault complaints and aggressive situations by Police Officers in laying charges rather than placing the onus on the victim. Commencing at 0001 hrs 31 06 17 Officers investigating assaults or threatening complaints are to fill out and leave with the victim, a Victim Information Card, copy attached.
The present practice of actively investigating assault complaints and laying charges where appropriate is effective;'however, some confusion arises where the victim does not recall the next day what the Officer's instructions or intentions were. The Victim information Cards are designed to alleviate this and are available to the Officers at the Headquarters Sergeant location.
The Investigating Officer should strike out the word "assaulted" 'or "threatened" to indicate which was complained of and must check the appropriate boxes to indicate the action taken or recommended. It is expected that in most instances of threatening, that the victim will proceed to lay his or her own charge.
The information that.is contained on the reverse side of the Information Card, wherein it is suggested to the victim that, should they require further assistance, they can call our Family Consultants, is not to deter Police Officers from utilizing their expertise at the time of the investigation.
Research results have shown a tendency for violence to be less severe after Family Consultants have intervened, particularly where there are children involved. Therefore, where an Officer deems necessary and appropriate, it is good practice to have one of the Family Consultants intervene in cases of violence as it may have a preventative effect.
'four co-operaticn in this program will be appreciated and bereficial the Force and the ccmmunity as a,whole.
// J. . e' Robinson -
Inspectcr Court Services Branch
81 06 15
-143-
VICTIM INFORM 1.TTON
Occurrence e
You have complained of being assaulted/th:reatened by:
POLICE ACTION
I will/will not lay a charge ED I recommend no further action c: I recommend that you lay a CD private information in the Provincial Court(Family Division)/ . (Criminal Division). To do so, telephone - . Family Division - 679-7090
Criminal Division - 679-7068 to obtain an appointment. You will be required to go to the Court House at 80 Dundas Street and relate the facts to a Justice of the Peace. When a charge is laid you will be required to appear in Court and give evidence. The Crown Attorney will appear as your lawyer for the purpose of presenting evidence in Criminal charges.
Officer Payroll #
(sèe reverse)
1 '
- 1 44-
If you need further assistance in resolving your difficulties you may call:
Family Consultants - 438-3291 or
Women's Community ouse - 439-4543
The staef there will be in a position to respond to your needs or refer you to someone who can.
ALSO
The Family Law Peform :Act provides for a Court Order to be made for custody, access, support and to restrain your spouse from molesting, harrassing or annoyinc you. A lawyer will be of assistance in this process. If you cannot afford a lawyer, then contact:
Legal Aid, 121 Oueens Ave. - 433-8179 and they will assist you.
NOTE
Conditions of an Order issued by the Court under the Family Law Reform Act cannot be enforced by the Police.
TAKE THIS CARD WITH YOU WHEN VISITING THE JUSTICE OF THE P!ACE OR A LAWYER.
-14 5-
APPENDTX P
Criminal charges more likely .;,-;; I:;ejiz.=_ .?7.244, .764.1.1 1,11
Police acting againe 'wife-beaters By Steen Gentled .7f The Free Press
London men who beat their wiifes are more likely to face cnmlnal charges fol. lowing a recent decieion by city police to lay charges in domestic squabbles . In-stead of leaving it up to the victim, as was often the case before.
The directive places family violsoce in the same league as other assaulta.
But there's more. During the past month, police have been giving assault victims cards which list the officer's name, payroll number and the occur-rence number and an indication of whether the police are laying a charge ' against the assailant or advising Lhe.vic•. tins ta do it herself.
The cards also bear telephone num-here for family court. cr.:mil:us' court , the police family consultants, legal aid and Women's Community House where ibe woman can turn for additional help.
"With the police Laying the charge, it's a clear statement by society th.at family
violence won't be te.ideatibete said Dr. Peter Jatte, chairmen of tbe London .co-orsitnating corneal:zee oa family vi- . olence.
Ln February; Jatte co-authored a re-port which was critical of police hart-riling of wife-beatings. The report dealt with asaaults agatnat weal« in the GLest six months of. 1271.
It said that , of the 243 battering cases studied, police laid charges of assault n causing bodily harm in twe per cent of them — but the charge was warranted in 56 per cent of the cases.
The police record has improved since ISM. Last year, there were:ZS *. mate complabrau ot assault causing be> silly barre. up from 34.1a1M. Of Lisa& cases, police were able to lay'charges in
incidenta, compared with lie in Ina. Insp. John Robinson, à Committee
member, said 114 limit the ittformatioe cards will help hack up the Latest dine-tive on Laying more charges, because the officers must alga the car*, •
"in signin.g it, he reelly kart° stop and Lisink" about whether there are the ma-accabla and proieed& groseeel to warrant
• • . . I"...
a police charge, regardless oi the Lee •may be a fatally quarrel.
A teaditioaal complaint of otIcers La that, alter police go to the time and =- pease al laying a charge, the vtetm changes her rated. But Robinson said now she won't be allowed that °pone.
"The crovra (attorney) is taking a ha..m line. The charge is there and. If every-thiag happy at home-new, well that's good. But that's a matter to be takel Into
consideration at the time of the deped-Don," be said.
"Even If the victen does withdraw the charge, that's not necessarily failure, " Jatte said. Studies show that etirrgag the man involved in these attacks See a deterrent effect.
"It raises his awareness of the laap-propriateriess of hia beitevior and the pe. tential consequences."
Jaffe said the certit should strair-test out the contusion mat existed before. "There &Ways uncle to be a conflict be-tween wtutt àdr victim mimics she's been told and • what a police officer intended ke tell ber In regards to her rights and al-ternatives."
• •
8,7e) sz,370" i/ce
SOLGEN CANADA L 13/B. BL o
I III II Mil Iii 0000008405
HV
700
1984
1.18RARY MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR
SEP 25 19134
813 1.10THÈQUE MINISTÈRE DU SOLLICITEUR GÉNÉRAL
Jaffe, Peter An integrated response to wife assault : a community
model