Citation

Malecha A, McFarlane JM, Gist J, Watson K, Batten E, Hall I, Smith S. Crim. Justice Policy Rev. 2003; 14(4): 486-504.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0887403403255496

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A total of 150 women who qualified for a protection order against an intimate partner wereinterviewed on the day of application and 3 months later to study factors associated with the receipt or dropping of a protection order. At 3 months, 54% of the women received protection orders, 28% dropped the process, and 18% did not receive protection orders. Differences (p < .05) in relationship status existed at intake between the women that received or dropped the protection order. Women who dropped were more likely in current relationships with the perpetrator, whereas protection order recipients considered the perpetrator a former partner. At intake and 3 months later, women in current relationships, irrespective of protection receipt or drop, reported significantly (p < .005) more physical assaults. Relationship status is a significant correlate of abused women’s receipt or dropping of a protection order as well as the level of assault experienced.