Abuse Response Programs Work

Abuse Response Programs Work

A 1998 study by the National Research Council released January 6 recommends limiting mandatory reporting of abuse after examining 114 abuse treatment and prevention programs. The report recommends that these type of programs should now be reviewed scientifically across the nation to see what works, since as much as $67 billion a year goes to abuse response programs.

Two economists have research, however, showing that simply the threat by an abused woman to use a shelter often can improve her situation even if she returns to the abusive relationship.

Jill Tiefenthaler, associate professor of economics at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, and Amy Farmer, associate professor of economics at the University of Tennessee, have developed an economic gaming model to explain their theory. They detailed it in a paper entitled "Domestic Violence: The Value of Services as Signals," which was published in the May 1996 issue of American Economic Review.

They suggest that "signals" such as calling the police, asking for counseling and moving to the shelter often are used as tools by women to negotiate a better domestic climate.

It's important for politicians, police and social service agencies to understand that, says Tiefenthaler.

"The fact that many battered women reconcile with their abusers after calling the police or staying in a shelter is frustrating to those who provide services to battered women," she says. "This frustration can result in a declining quality of help for battered women."

Tiefenthaler and Farmer acknowledge that for a minority of women, the use of a shelter may lead to more abuse against them. Several studies suggest, however, that for the significant majority, shelter use results in decreased domestic violence.

The authors contend that an increase in the number and quality of alternatives that a woman has for leaving a relationship acts to lower the danger of domestic violence against her. Earlier research, for example, indicated that increasing a woman's income level tends to result in less domestic abuse.

Shelters for the abused are services used successfully by many women who do not intend to leave their partners, the authors contend, and that is the benchmark by which their usefulness should be judged.

Editors & Reporters: This research could prove useful if you are planning reaction stories relating to the study by the National Research Council. Feel free to contact Jill Tiefenthaler at 315-824-7523 (office) or 315-824-4703 (home). You can reach her by electronic mail at [email protected] Farmer is at 423-974-1704 (office). Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963 if you would like a copy of the study.