Introduction to Handbook

Domestic Violence Victims

There are three groups of victims in our society that NOBLE has given very special attention. They are victims of domestic violence, hate violence, and victims elderly. In this section we will look specifically at the victimization of these persons and suggest ways to meet their special needs.

Domestic violence. also called wife abuse! spouse abuse, and wife beating, has and continues to be one of the most difficult criminal situations confronting the criminal justice system. For years law enforcement officers have been caught between mediating and diffusing volatile situations, with little positive results. In 1984, the Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence sought to give guidance to law enforcement and the rest of the criminal justice system through 63 recommendations based on a conclusion that: "An assault is a crime, whether it is by a relative or a stranger and whether it occurs in the home or on the street. In such family crimes, arrest, not mediation, should be the desired response."

Any woman, regardless of color, needs shelter and counseling when she has been battered, but counseling will not be effective if it is blind to the cultural experiences and differences of those women who are treated. Also for battered women to be helped, help must not only be available, it should be easily accessible.

In many minority communities public services and assistance to victims of domestic violence are in short supply. Safe homes or shelters may not exist in their neighborhoods. Thus, these women must travel out of their own neighborhoods for assistance. While it is important that concerned groups and programs address not only the cultural differences that exist in treating persons of color, it is equally important that they acknowledge the stark realities of accessibility for many minority citizens who require these services.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN HELP BY:

Talking with the victim to let her know that you care about what happened. Ask if there is anything that you can do
Let the victim know that the crime is not her fault
Become an active listener, if the victim wants to talk
If the victim needs transportation to a shelter, lend assistance
(Other suggestions are included in section on Shelters and Safe Homes.)

Persons who are victimized solely because of their race, religion, ethnicity or national origin are victims of hate violence. This type of violence ranges from verbal threats and intimidation, property defacement, physical attacks to even death. Hate violence incidents are not usually violent, but the impact on the victims is just as severe. Cross burnings or racial slurs and epithets are psychologically damaging and instill fear and insecurity in the victims. In many instances, victims are forced from their homes and their lifestyles are permanently altered.

Many ot these victims fail to report their victimization. What are some reasons that victims fail to report these incidents'? One reason is that victims feel such crimes are not a priority for the police and courts. Many victims feel helpless and believe that reporting will not produce a positive response. Often victims do not want to become involved in the criminal justice process. The historical distrust that minority citizens harbor for police and related agencies come into play when they think of reporting a crime. Minorities, who are immigrants, may fear reprisals, such as deportation, if particular incidents are reported Another problem for minority citizens may be language problems experieced in attempting to communicate about a crime to law enforcement officals and other agencies.

COMMUNITY GROUPS CAN RESPOND BY:

Organizing your community group to respond directly to incidents of hate violence
Reporting all incidents of hate violence to the police
Forming networks with other groups to exchange information and develop programs
Publishing and disseminating materials to the public on hate violence and ways to prevent it
Lobbying state and local lesgislators for additional funds to provide services to victims
Organizing human relations seminars in your community

Elderly Victims

The American population is living longer. As the number of senior citizens increases, more attention is being placed on the needs and concerns of the elderly.

Elderly persons are not disproportionately victimized by serious crime when compared to other age groups, but their level of fear is very high. Many explanations have been given to account for the incongruence between levels of fear and victimization rates for the elderly. Others have suggested that the high levels of fear reported by the elderly may be attributed to their social isolation, and their lack of available resources for coping with victimization of their peers.

Recent studies maintain that the minority elderly in general, and the African American elderly in particular, are more susceptible to criminal victimization when compared to elderly whites since more elderly minorities tend to inhabit the inner-city areas that are frequent targets of criminal acts. The problems for minority elderly are exacerbated even further by their extreme poverty which makes it difficult for them to recover financially after victimization.

There is evidence that Spanish-speaking elderly, including those persons from Central and South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico who are not able to communicate effectively in English, are not afraid of being victimized but also have a tendency to be highly suspicious of police officers who try to intervene in their cases. As a result they tend to be less aware of and are less likely to utilize services for victims of crime.

HELPING ELDERLY CITIZENS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Organize community groups to respond to victimization of the elderly. Discuss topics such as:
- how to avoid being robbed
- safeguarding your home
- avoiding fraud and con artists
Establish senior citizen escort programs for the elderly in your neighborhood

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This document was last updated on June 26, 2008