The Relationship Between Domestic Violence Case Disposition and Victimization Six Months Later

Cris M. Sullivan, Michigan State University
Joanne Belknap, University of Colorado - Boulder
Ruth Fleury, Michigan State University
Amy Leisenring, University of Colorado - Boulder
Heather C. Melton, University of Colorado - Boulder

ABSTRACT
This paper reports findings from a longitudinal study on 175 battered women whose court cases have closed in three jurisdictions in the U.S. Detailed interviews were conducted with the participants shortly after their court case closed, and again 6 months later. The goal of this paper is to determine whether the case disposition is related to subsequent victimization, which women were most likely to experience re-victimization, and whether and how a re-victimized woman's evaluation of the system in die first offense is related to her use of the system in re-victimization offenses.

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Updated 05/20/2006