TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Correlates for legal help-seeking: Contextual factors for battered women in shelter
JO  - Violence and victims
A1  - Wright, Caroline Vaile
A1  - Johnson, Dawn M.
SP  - 771
EP  - 785
VL  - 24
IS  - 6
N2  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0886-6708
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.771
ID  - ref1
ER  -