FEATURE/Glamour Magazine Debate: Should Women be Punished for Returning to the Men Who Abuse Them?

Lifestyle Editors

FEATURE...

--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)

Glamour Magazine 

Recently, judges have held women in contempt of court after they contacted partners against whom they'd filed protective orders. Glamour speaks to advocates from both sides.

YES: Ron Johnson, state circuit judge, Harlan County Circuit Court, Kentucky; often presides over domestic-violence cases:

"I've put women (and men) in jail for violating the protective orders my court has granted them. Domestic violence puts many people at risk, and I do my best to reduce that risk," says Judge Johnson. "Number one, I want to protect the woman." Johnson also recounts a case where a woman claimed her husband had held her prisoner. Although Johnson issued a protective order and advised her not to see her husband, she kept going back to him. "...So I put them both in jail," says Johnson. "Now they're divorced and live in separate states--but if I hadn't been that forceful, the situation could have gone on and on. Johnson also addresses the issue of children's and community welfare in this situation. Johnson states, "I want to protect the children, keep the law-enforcement community at minimum risk and preserve community peace. By enforcing my protective order on both sides, I can keep a lot of these people safe." And although Johnson wants to be sensitive to the feelings that a woman may have for a man, he feels that "somebody's got to end the abuse."

NO: Lisa Beran, attorney for the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association; represents victims of domestic violence in court:

"I find it offensive that a judge would punish women for contacting men after obtaining protective orders against them. The government doesn't have the right to do this," states Beran. She believes that usually when women seek protective orders, they're not thinking about leaving, but instead just want the violence to stop. Beran explains, "studies show it takes a victim about seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship. A woman may go back because she's convinced her kids need a father, or she may still love him--love doesn't turn off like a light switch." Beran also feels that the most dangerous time for a battered woman is when she leaves. "The man may escalate the abuse if he feels he's losing control," says Beran. "And let's be real: Protective orders don't come with armed guards. Since judges can't guarantee safety, I think they need to stay on a woman's side as much as possible. Otherwise, women who are reprimanded by judges for returning to their batterers may be too humiliated to return to court if they're abused again."

July 2002 issue on newsstands June 11