This study evaluated advocacy services offered to battered
women in Detroit, Michigan, and examined other aspects of coordinated
community responses to domestic violence by focusing on women named as
victims in police reports. Advocacy was defined as those services
provided to support victims during the legal process or to enhance
their safety. For the Preliminary Complaint Reports Data (Part 1), a
random sample of preliminary complaint reports (PCRs), completed by
police officers after they responded to domestic violence calls, were
gathered, resulting in a sample of 1,057 incidents and victims. For
Victim Advocacy Contact Data (Part 2), researchers obtained data from
advocates' files about the services they provided to the 1,057
victims. For Case Disposition Data (Part 3), researchers conducted a
computer search to determine the outcomes of the cases. They looked up
each perpetrator from the list of 1,057 incidents, and determined
whether there was a warrant for the focal incident, whether it turned
into a prosecution, and the outcome. The Initial Victim Interview
(Part 4) and Follow-Up Victim Interview Data (Part 5) were conducted
from April 1998 to July 1999. During the same period that researchers
were completing the second interviews, they also interviewed 23 women
(Victim Comparison Group Interview Data, Part 6) from the list of
1,057 whom they had been unable to reach during the first interviews.
They compared these 23 women to the 63 who had second interviews to
determine if there were any differences in use of services, or views
toward or participation in prosecution. Variables in Part 1 focus on
whether alcohol and abuse were involved, previous incidents, the
suspect's psychological aggressions and physical assaults, if a weapon
was used, if the victim was hurt, if property was damaged, if the
victim sought medical attention, and the severity of physical abuse or
injury. Variables in Part 2 provide information on the role of the
advocate, methods of contact, types of referrals made, and services
provided. Variables in Part 3 include the type of charge, outcome of
resolved case, why the case was dismissed, if applicable, and if the
suspect was sentenced to probation, costs, confinement, no contact
with the victim, a batterer program, or community service. The
initial, follow-up, and comparison group interviews (Parts 4-6) all
collected similar information. Variables about the incident include
how well the respondent remembered the incident, if police arrived
promptly, if the respondent was advised to file charges, if police
told the respondent that a counselor was available, and if the
respondent's partner had been in jail since the incident. Variables
concerning advocacy include whether the victim contacted advocates,
and if advocates provided legal help and referrals. Legal system
variables include whether the respondent felt pressured by anyone to
drop charges or pursue charges, if the respondent received help for
preliminary examination or trial, and if contact with the legal system
helped the respondent. Variables about services include whether the
respondent received assistance in temporary shelter, food/money
resources, child care, employment, education, a lawyer for
divorce/custody, support or self-help group, or a substance abuse
treatment program. Variables concerning what happened in the previous
six months cover the number of times the respondent had called police
because of danger, left home because of a violent incident, partner
had been arrested because of violence, and partner physically abused
respondent. Variables about events that occurred while the respondent
and abuser were separated include how often the partner harassed the
respondent on the phone, wrote threatening letters, violated legal
restrictions, refused to leave the respondent's home, failed to pay
child support, and threatened to take the children. Demographic
variables include respondent's race or ethnic background, education,
marital status, number of children, number of children who lived with
respondent, and employment status and income at the time of the
interviews.