ADVICE : Prosecuting Domestic Violence: ‘Women and Children Fall Through the Cracks’

Traditionally, (African-Americans) have been at the lower end for social problems. (Funding for programs dealing with domestic violence) tends to fall below all the other needs. You’ve got high crime, you’ve got violence, you’ve got sexual assault. With so many problems, the needs of women and children seem to fall through the cracks. There are definitely not enough shelters in the community.

(One problem is) the relationship with law enforcement, especially now in light of the civil unrest in Los Angeles. A woman in a battering relationship wants the batterer removed. However, she does not want him beaten and treated badly by the justice system because he may retaliate. Then she’s made to feel guilty, sometimes, by other people within the community, in her family or his family (who say) that they should have been able to work this out or she should have just left.