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. 2009;24(6):771-85.
doi: 10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.771.

Correlates for legal help-seeking: contextual factors for battered women in shelter

Caroline Vaile Wright  1 , Dawn M Johnson
Affiliations

Correlates for legal help-seeking: contextual factors for battered women in shelter

Caroline Vaile Wright et al. Violence Vict. 2009.

Abstract

Legal redress can play a critical role in interrupting the pattern of domination and control inherent in intimate partner violence (IPV), yet it remains an infrequent strategy among battered women. The current study employed a contextual framework for investigating the correlates for engagement in the criminal justice system for a sample of 227 sheltered battered women. Results indicated that individual, relational, and system-level factors were all associated with two legal help-seeking behaviors: having a civil protection order and criminal prosecution. In particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, social support, and prior experience with police officers were significant correlates for legal help-seeking. Results highlight the need for a coordinated community response to IPV, addressing both legal needs and psychological needs simultaneously.

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