Case Study Of Battered Woman Syndrome By Tanya Mitchell

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Institute of Justice, one in four women in the United States has experienced domestic violence during her lifetime (Battered Woman Syndrome, 2012). This type of abuse can be fatal and detrimental to one’s personal growth. When woman are repeatedly abused, they show different signs, symptoms and general characteristics. These characteristics are defined as Battered Woman Syndrome.

The report responding to section 40507 of the Violence Against Women Act from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- National Institute of Mental Health determined that:

Although we lost Ellen Pence, a woman who changed how domestic violence is addressed, in 2012, there are many lives that are being saved to this day because of her work. Ellen Pence found her calling in 1977 when she began working for the Minneapolis Housing Authority that helped individuals relocate with housing complications (StarTribune, 2010). It was then that she immersed herself through domestic violence cases and set the standard for addressing these cases. Ellen Pence is especially known for establishing the Duluth Program, a program that address batterers in the court systems, and Praxis Training, which are training on addressing domestic violence for law enforcement, advocates, community agencies, and institutions. Pence’s 35 years of service change the way domestic violence cases were handled, educated key players in domestic violence cases, and showed the world what it was like to be a victim of domestic abuse. Without her efforts, many individuals in power addressing these cases would be lost and those to who are victims would not be understood as they are today.

Because woman strike back at their abusers; battered woman’s syndrome has been used in courts as a plea when their actions were believed to be in self-defense (Hodell et. al, 2011). And when a battered woman kills her abuser, they must convince a jury of the rationality of her lethal actions to successfully advance a plea of self-defense (Schuller et al., 2004). When jurors believe that under the given circumstances a defendant’s behavior was justified under the law a jury can find a defendant not guilty by reason of self-defense (Hodell et al., 2011). Recent research in case’s of self-defense suggest that when using the battered women’s syndrome certain characteristics of the defendant could interfere with the accused sentencing (Russell, Ragatz, & Kraus, 2012).

The Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, doing business as Anna Marie 's Alliance, is a private non-profit corporation formed in 1979 dedicated to providing safe shelter, support, and referral services for battered women and their children. The Alliance also works with the community on systems change and violence prevention. Anna Marie 's has sheltered over 13,000 battered women and their children since 1979 (more than 8,000 of these were children) ("Anna Marie 's Alliance | providing safety and shelter today... violence-free communities tomorrow," n.d.). The state of MN has oversight over Anna Marie’s Alliance because the state grants the legal existence of the organization through not-for-profit incorporation laws. Likewise, the federal government also has oversight over Anna Marie’s Alliance because the federal government grants exemption from federal income taxes. This paper discusses the nonprofit organization and the accounting practices at Anna Marie’s Alliance.

The laws of BDS are kind of confusing. In many states is now recognizable in legislation

In this analysis, I will attempt to cover the basis of Battered Women’s Syndrome as a legal defense. This will cover the historical context of Battered Women’s Syndrome as a legal defense, which will of course require a brief review of what battered women’s syndrome is by using experts in the field, usually psychologists. When reviewing the historical context of such a subversive topic, it is essential to the structure that we look at actual cases involving battered women such as abuse being reported and cases that have actually been brought to trial as well as the ending verdicts as the factors that may have caused the outcome. We must also look at different cases as to which the defense was used, such as situations where a battered women’s husband was sleeping, or any other relative situation as to which there was question of the imminence of a threat.

When looking into Battered Woman Syndrome it is a relatively new defense and standing point in the court of law compared to other methods. This defense has also gained a ton of scrutiny in its time as it is a very vague defense and can be used in a multitude of situations in which it does not exactly apply as it would to others. I personally feel that this defense can be very helpful to women who truly need it, and it provides a cover for women who truly don’t need to be protected and need to be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the crimes which they have committed. This is something we went over for a journal and it interested me a great deal, especially with the case of Susan Wright.

The controversial concept of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) is a psychological theory that aims to explain the behavior of certain women who suffer abuse from their husbands, partners, or significant others. The theory was first proposed and introduced by Dr. Lenore Walker in the 1970’s based on her clinical observations. It then quickly became a common way to validate criminal behavior of women who were charged with the murder of their partner, however since the syndrome wasn’t confirmed through scientific research as a real disorder, it didn’t enjoy widespread support from the forensic psychologist’s community.

At least a third of all women murdered in the U.S are killed by their male partner. Although both men and women can fall victim to “Battered Person Syndrome”, so many women have been diagnosed with this disease that females were given their own branch from the diagnosis called “Battered Woman Syndrome”. Battered Woman Syndrome a.k.a BWS is a psychological and physical condition of a woman who has suffered extreme physical, emotional, or sexual abuse from another person (Battered person syndrome). BWS is a mental disorder commonly paired with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This psychological disorder is one of the many reasons why women feel as though they cannot leave their current situation with their abuser. Due to this, many battered

In beginning my revision process, I started by staring at my submitted essay over and over. First thought, I should have changed the title to something along the lines of, “Domestic Violence, is there Treatment?” Second thought, Wow!! What a difference I am from the person who first began this course. I took a look back over my previous submitted writing assignments and could see my writing abilities has drastically improved, As I reviewed and reflected on the submitted essay “Domestic Violence and Treatment”, I believe, I did a complete and thorough job in delivering my subject. As I previously stated, I credit you, Mr. Perkins and this course for my improvements. I have always struggled to put my thoughts on paper in a manner that is coherent. I now feel that my ability to write and express my ideas, thoughts and knowledge have grown stronger.

Walker’s Battered Woman Syndrome sought to explain the actions of an abuse victim who fought back and killed her attacker in the process. It suggests that a woman in this situation was justified in killing her abuser as a result of the circumstances she found herself in. This meant that any woman had tools with which to defend herself in the courtroom, and that any reasonable woman would use force in such circumstances when presented with the opportunity. It was an instinctual response to a

There are many different types of domestic violence. Physical abuse is the most obvious form, but this is not to say that outsiders always recognize it. Generally, physical violence causes bodily harm, using a variety of methods. Slapping, pushing, throwing, hitting, punching, and strangling are only a few methods. An object or weapon may or may not be used. There is not always physical evidence of physical abuse such as bruising, bleeding, scratches, bumps, etc., therefore, absence of physical marks does not necessarily mean physical abuse had not occurred. Physical abuse sometimes escalates to murder (Morris and Biehl 7, Haley 14-17).

In order for the Battered Woman Syndrome claim to be used expert testimony is essential. This is needed in order to give matter to the argument that justifies what the woman did. It is also needed because there needs to be an explanation of the Syndrome to juries, in away they can understand. Learned helplessness and other scientific knowledge need to be explained in order for the jury to understand. To understand what the woman is going through, what she was thinking at the time she committed the crime, and that she did it (murder her abuser) it because she honestly felt that it was the only solution in getting the “cycle of violence”. First, the women must show that she is able to prove either through her own testimony or through the testimony of other witnesses that she is a “battered woman”. She must then provide proof that the expert who she has chosen is qualified in the field. Some think that the defense based on Battered Woman Syndrome is an insanity defense, because of the experts who are brought in to explain the characteristics of the syndrome, psychologists or psychiatrists. Also because the word “syndrome” is often used to describe mental illnesses. “First her husband, now the courts”, is what one of the signs read at a march during

Domestic violence has been a main issue throughout history and all over the world; it can evidentially affect children, the elderly, women, and even men. Although abuse can affect many individuals, a significant portion of domestic abuse cases are against women. Globally, women are constantly facing physical, social and mental abuse by men and/or their significant others. In past years, the issue of domestic violence has gained the attention of researchers. In fact, studies have shown that it is a global issue negatively impacting the social and health status of individuals, particularly women. A survey of domestic abuse in Canada signifies that 29% of married women have been abused by their partners at least once (Nwosu, 2006). Many argue