‘Not bullet proof’: The complex choice not to seek a civil protection order for intimate partner violence

Abstract

Protection orders (POs) are one legal system resource available to survivors of intimate partner violence. Many survivors choose not to obtain a PO, yet prior research has not examined the perspectives of these survivors. This study examined the open-ended survey responses ( n = 308) regarding the choice not to obtain a PO by survivors residing in emergency shelters in the United States. Content analysis indicated that many survivors made deliberate decisions to not seek safety through this venue. Survivors indicated that a PO may increase their partner’s violence, identified substantial barriers, evaluated a PO as unnecessary, preferred alternative strategies, were dealing with complex partner dynamics, and chose to protect their loved ones by not seeking a PO. Women with marginalized identities, in particular, indicated that there are multiple costs to seeking interventions within the legal system. Structural changes are needed within the legal system to facilitate access to justice for survivors.

How Americans Assess Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

“…Viewing the relationship as abusive increased support for the woman calling the police or receiving a restraining order through the pathway of concern but had a negative direct effect. Prior work shows that victims and researchers are apprehensive over the effectiveness of protection orders or calling the police and victims fear repercussions when using these interventions (Logan and Walker 2010; Messing et al 2021; Wolf et al 2003). Awareness of the limitations of these interventions would explain why women and those who viewed the relationship in the scenario as abusive had a negative direct effect while still increasing support for these interventions indirectly through concern.…”

Practice Note: Domestic Violence Advocacy and Response to Intimate Partner Homicide in the COVID-19 Era

“…DV survivors at home in the early days of lockdown dealt with the stress of children, home-schooling, trying to manage work concerns, and worries about their family who were sick, with violence from their partner on top of all of this. Deciding to leave a domestically violent home and relationship and seek help from advocates or the legal system is already a high-risk time for women (Messing et al, 2021). COVID-19 circumstances exacerbated some of the difficulties, with the skyrocketing rental market and maxed out shelter system leaving survivors with nowhere to go for safety.…”

Traumatic bonding in victims of intimate partner violence is intensified via empathy

“…In some cases, they may idolize them. Love dependent people also believe that their partner’s love and protection are more important (Messing et al, 2021) than any pain the partner may be causing them.…”