Domestic Violence, Criminal Justice Responses and Homelessness: Finding the Connection and Addressing the Problem

Domestic Violence and Housing Problems

“…Previous research suggests a relationship between domestic violence and female homelessness (Browne & Bassuk, 1997;Bufkin & Bray, 1998;Goodman, 1991;Metreaux & Culhane, 1999;Toro et al, 1995;Zorza, 1991). Women may have to find new housing to escape from their partners' abuse.…”

“…Battered women seek help from the criminal and civil justice systems for protection against abuse and to hold their partners accountable for the abuse. However, these systems have been widely criticized for poor treatment of women and an inability to protect women, both of which could be key intervening variables in women's homelessness (Bufkin & Bray, 1998). For example, in a study of 50 battered women, 50% reported that police officers minimized their injuries, 33% encountered objectionable questions and comments by judges, and 51% reported that prosecutors asked whether they provoked their abuse (Erez & Belknap, 1998).…”

The Pertinence of Partners

“…One interesting line of research that begins to advance these themes is the increasingly large body of knowledge dealing with the relationship between violence and women's homelessness. Research in the 1990s confirmed that this link exists (Browne & Bassuk, 1997;Bufkin & Bray, 1998;Goodman, 1991;Metreaux & Culhane, 1999;Zorza, 1991). More recent studies in the same vein include Baker, Cook, and Norris (2003) and Wenzel, Leake, and Gelberg (2001).…”

Homelessness, violence exposure, and school participation among urban adolescent mothers

“…While being Latina significantly decreases the odds of ever experiencing homelessness, witnessing parental violence significantly increases the odds. Parental violence in the home might contribute to the odds of experiencing homelessness in two ways: first, it may push women who are being physically abused by their male partners to leave the home with their children and become homeless~Browne & Bassuk, 1997; Bufkin & Bray, 1998; National Coalition for the Homeless, 2006!. In this way, homelessness is experienced by youth in relation to their mother's status.…”

“…Among homeless adolescents, experiencing physical abuse by a parent or adult caregiver is associated with higher rates of poor academic achievement, poor school attendance, and revictimization on the street; the latter is, in turn, associated with PTSD and, among young women, depression~Stewart et al, 2004;Sullivan & Knutson, 2000;Whitbeck et al, 1999;Whitbeck et al, 2001!. Pregnant and parenting adolescents who report a history of physical abuse by a parent or adult caregiver in combination with sexual abuse and0or partner violence have higher rates of school drop-out, higher stress and depression scores, and increased substance use during pregnancy~Bayatpour et al, 1992;Berenson et al, 1992;StevensSimon & McArney, 1994!. The research literature on adolescent homelessness does not appear to address partner violence, though this type of abuse is understood to be an important correlate of and contributor to homelessness among adult women~Browne & Bassuk, 1997; Bufkin & Bray, 1998; National Coalition for the Homeless, 2006!. Among pregnant and parenting adolescents, partner violence prevalence rates range from 15% to 50% Berenson et al, 1992;Boyer & Fine, 1992;Center for Impact Research, 2000;Gielen, O'Campo, Faden, Kass, & Xue, 1994;Harrykissoon, Rickert, & Wiemann, 2002;Luster et al, 1996;Parker, McFarlane, & Soeken, 1994!. In studies comparing pregnant adults with pregnant adolescents, researchers found significantly higher rates of physical abuse by a partner among the adolescent participants~Gielen et Parker et al, 1994!.…”