title: Help-seeking patterns among women experiencing intimate partner violence: do they forgo the criminal justice system if their adjudication wishes are not met?
abstract: Following a criminal case disposition, an intimate partner violence (IPV) victim's willingness to seek future police and prosecutorial assistance may depend on her prior experiences within the system. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between IPV victims' future help-seeking based on past experiences. We hypothesized women would return to the criminal justice system if their adjudication wishes corresponded with prosecutors' actions. Contrary to the hypothesis, results suggest women return to the criminal system and other venues even if prosecutors' actions do not correspond to their earlier stated wishes. This has important policy implications given pro-prosecution protocols that encourage adjudication regardless of a woman's participation.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerulli
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dichter
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Tae Kuen
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Karin V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016495:Police; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult