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Factors Associated with Separation and Ongoing Violence among Women with Civil Protective Orders

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Abstract

This study examined a large sample of women recruited out of court at the time they received a civil protective order to better understand relationship status after obtaining a protective order (PO) and factors associated with protective order violations. Results are consistent with prior research suggesting that the protective order may be the impetus in separating from the abusive partner for some women, while for other women it is part of the separation process. Results also indicated that five out of ten women who did not continue a relationship experienced a violation while seven out of ten women who did continue a relationship with the PO partner experienced a violation. The majority of women felt safer and reported they believed the protective order was effective 13 months post-PO, regardless of relationship status. Furthermore, stalking played a significant role in separation from an abusive relationship and in protective order violations regardless of relationship status. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

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Notes

  1. Cases excerpted from Logan et al. (2006).

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Acknowledgements

The research for and preparation of this article were supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Grant Number AA12735-01 and the University of Kentucky General Clinical Research Organization funded by the National Institute of Health Grant #M01RR02602.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 1141 Red Mile Road, Suite 201, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA

    TK Logan & Jennifer Cole

  2. Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 915B South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Robert Walker & Lisa Shannon

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  1. TK Logan
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  2. Robert Walker
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  3. Lisa Shannon
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  4. Jennifer Cole
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Correspondence to TK Logan.

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Logan, T., Walker, R., Shannon, L. et al. Factors Associated with Separation and Ongoing Violence among Women with Civil Protective Orders. J Fam Viol 23, 377–385 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9164-9

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