Date of Defense

Fall 12-13-1995

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Susan Carlson, Sociology

Second Advisor

Peter Renstrom, Political Science

Third Advisor

James P. Coyle, Kalamazoo District Court

Abstract

Domestic violence is the most common type of violence police encounter in America. It occurs more frequently than all other types of violence combined. It is a form of violence that is overwhelmingly directed at women. According to the FBI, a woman is battered every 15 seconds in America. Domestic violence injuries occur more frequently to women than incidents of rape, mugging and car accidents combined. About 30% of female murder victims are killed by their husbands or boyfriends. The enormous problem of domestic violence has become a major focus of political concern because of the more active role women have taken in society. Michigan has responded to these demands by passing laws designed to protect the victims and punish the offenders of domestic violence. Kalamazoo County has taken Michigan legislation farther and has created the Kalamazoo Assault Intervention Project. This paper will establish the problem of domestic violence in Kalamazoo, examine its dynamics, and evaluate the strategies used to combat this problem with information gathered from research and personal interviews with criminal justice officials in Kalamazoo.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Campus Only

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