DOI:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9410-7<Go
Electronic Resources:	ISI>://000295680000006 to
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	'Acting in the Children's Best Interest?': Examining Victims' Responses to Intimate Partner Violence
Other Titles:	J Child Fam Stud
Authors:	Meyer, S
Year:	2011
Citation:	No 4 Vol.: 20
Notes:	Victims' responses to violent experiences within intimate relationships are highly diverse and can range from remaining silent, at least temporarily, to disclosing the abuse to informal and formal sources of support. Decisions to remain silent or to reach out for support are influenced by a complex range of factors, including situational circumstances, such as the presence of children. Using data from in-depth interviews with victims of IPV (N = 29) in Southeast Queensland, Australia, I examined victims' responses to IPV when children are present in the abusive household. Victims, who accessed general formal support sources, including the criminal justice systems and Child Protection Services (CPS), frequently faced stereo-typical and victim-blaming attitudes along with a lack of understanding of the dynamics of IPV and the circumstances surrounding victims' help-seeking decisions. The presence of children in abuse relationships complicated victims' help-seeking decisions because fear of harm and loss of custody often delayed or hindered the disclosure of IPV to formal support sources. Once disclosing the abuse victims often found themselves trapped between CPS expectations to protect their children by leaving the abusive partner and a reluctance on behalf of judges and magistrates to offer the necessary protection by including children on granted Domestic Violence Orders (DVO). These findings highlight the ongoing need for specialized training of CPS personnel, judges and magistrates along with an ongoing collaboration with the women's sector to ensure the safety of victims and their children throughout the help-seeking process and to improve victims' confidence in disclosing IPV. Electronic Resource Number: DOI 10.1007/s10826-010-9410-7 Author's Address: Meyer, SUniv Queensland, Social Sci Res Inst, St Lucia Campus,Bldg 31B, Brisbane, Qld 4072, AustraliaUniv Queensland, Social Sci Res Inst, St Lucia Campus,Bldg 31B, Brisbane, Qld 4072, AustraliaUniv Queensland, Social Sci Res Inst, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia 830TLTimes Cited:2Cited References Count:37
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13272
ISSN:	10621024
Physical description:	Pages 436-443
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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