Social Dimensions: Differences Among Abused Women Who Do or Do Not Want Their Abuser Penalized Under No-Drop Policies.
Open Access
Author:
La Paz, Eydsa M
Area of Honors:
Crime, Law, and Justice
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Laurie Katherine Scheuble, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Jeffery Todd Ulmer, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
domestic violence no-drop policy rational choice theory race victim-offender relationship children level of education
Abstract:
Given the many factors at play when it comes to domestic violence, as well as the implications in aiding with the penalization of their abuser, it is important to understand how women respond to the prosecution of their abusers and what shapes their willingness to respond. This study sought to understand what factors influence a woman’s decision to penalize or not her abuser under the implementation of no-drop policies. The study examines certain variables that could shape how a woman responds to her particular situation. Among these variables are: race, level of education, victim-offender relationship, and number of children with the abuser or in the household. The findings show that certain victim characteristics are predictive of victim desire for arrest, having the abuser placed in jail by the court and/or placed in a treatment program. Women with higher education, with children and unmarried are most likely to want their abusive partner’s punished as compared to their counterparts. The findings focusing on race of the victim were mixed. Understanding what influences a woman’s choice to aid in the penalization of her abuser is critical in addressing intimate partner violence.
