Reply #46: DV [View All]

[Shanty Oilish]

I spend a lot of time helping dv victims. At this moment two of them are living in my house and I am paying the housing costs of four or five others.
I've been doing this sort of thing for several years so I know how inadequate law enforcement is. Abused women are also keenly aware of it. One or two lessons in the teeth of the law, and many of them will "behave" themselves forever---not the abuser, the abused.

Getting a conviction for dv is an uphill climb. Getting a protection order is uphill for some women, particularly in rural areas. Women ask themselves, what's the benefit of antagonizing him with legal proceedings, and what's the risk? Where do I run to? (Shelter will put her up for 30 days; housing waiting list will hold her up after that for maybe a year.)

Federal law kicking in? Tell some of these local magistrates about federal law, they just roll their eyes.