Doctoral Thesis
Justice Without Support, Understanding or Accountability: The Experiences of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence with the Western Australian Justice System
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Murdoch University
2023
Abstract
When female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) approach the justice system, they expect to receive support for their decision to regain control over their victimisation. However, regulations, processes, and attitudes within the justice system prevent police, legal representatives, and courts from fulfilling the expectations of female victims of IPV when administering justice. Justice may be using Wemmers’s (1996) model of procedural justice, which is predicated on victims having a voice, providing a fair and impartial legal process, and treating victims with dignity and respect. To examine this phenomenon, this dissertation analyses the experiences of 13 female victims of IPV who interacted with and were processed through the Western Australian justice system. Interviewees’ narratives were analysed using a grounded theory approach, incorporating Glaser’s (1992) objectivist approach to grounded theory, Strauss’s (1987) open, axial, and selective coding process, and Charmaz’s (2000) constructivist method. The research revealed that victims of IPV were dissatisfied with the administration of justice due to three core factors: a lack of victim support within the justice system, a lack of understanding of the consequences of IPV by justice professionals, and the failure of the justice system to hold abusers accountable. Overall, this dissertation suggests that female victims of intimate partner violence must feel supported and understood by the justice system, and their abusers must be held accountable. Indeed, when the justice system satisfies victims’ expectations, they are more likely to report higher satisfaction levels and continue engaging with the justice system, thus minimising the probability of recurrent abuse. In contrast, victims whose expectations are not met are more likely to express dissatisfaction and frustration, which disincentivises their further engagement with the justice system and increases their vulnerability to further victimisation.
Details
- Title
- Justice Without Support, Understanding or Accountability: The Experiences of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence with the Western Australian Justice System
- Authors/Creators
- Nicola Stokes
- Contributors
- Anahita Riegler (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of Law and CriminologyMichael Wilson (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of Law and Criminology
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Identifiers
- 991005609658607891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Law and Criminology
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
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