It is pathetic to realize that as people evolve, so do crimes. At present, crimes which were unheard of before are now becoming commonplace. The changing morals, coupled with the advances in technology have made some crimes so sophisticated and more difficult to detect. Crimes of fraud, sex crimes against women and children, money laundering as well as those involving high tech equipment, etc. are becoming more intimidating for crime prevention experts.
Being a woman in today’s society can be complicated due to the different standards and values held by society that evolved through the years. Some men continue to see women as the weaker sex and treat women without respect. Society puts double standards that certain roles and expectations confuse women of their equality with men. Women are expected to be great homemakers, since that is where society has stationed them to be, while at the same time, they are expected to perform excellently in the workforce, however, they are not given the same privilege and treatment as men. They have to work doubly hard just to prove that they are worthy of being equal to their male counterparts.
Complex issues about the status and welfare of women have arisen and for some, have proven to be highly controversial. Among these issues are violence against women and their victimization in various harassing situations. Crimes such as Rape leave deep-seated wounds that scar women for a very long time. Such a devastating experience may be the root of a woman’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which may cripple her thinking, management of emotions and daily functioning.
Problem to be addressed: Violence Against Women
A prevalent issue in society is domestic violence. It is ironic that for some women, the assumed safety of the home is non-existent, as the home is the setting where she is at her most vulnerable point, and where she is most in danger of being abused. Young People and Domestic Violence Report of the Commonwealth Government define domestic violence as:
“the unacceptable use of physical (including sexual) force to control or coerce. In terms of criminological analysis and crime prevention strategies, this definition focuses on tangible behaviour that is recognizable in the criminal law and familiar to law enforcement agencies. However, this core definition needs to be placed within the context of a broader definition: violence (physical, sexual, psychological, financial) where a ‘domestic’ relationship exists between the victim and the perpetrator” (NCP, 2001, p. 3)
Getting to the Root of the Problem
There are identified factors that are likely to predict a victim’s vulnerability such as educational attainment, labour force status, main source of income and prior adult violence. Also, reporting an incidence of violence committed against them and use of support services for victims were less likely for women with certain characteristics or life experiences.
In order to prevent such violence, crime prevention specialists need to understand its underlying causes and assure acceptance of the victims to support them personally. Preventive strategies may be designed together with the victims themselves. Clancey and Moore (2008) suggest that domestic violence prevention strategies should reflect the following: consideration of socioeconomic marginalization in providing support for violence and educative programs that include positive parenting; engagement of peers in reinforcing beliefs about violence; programs should be research-based and multifaceted to reflect various roles of class, gender, community, culture, family/ individual circumstances affecting the prevention strategy. It should also reflect the influence on behavior of limitations and attitudes.
Analysis
As mentioned, domestic violence is a crime that usually goes unreported. Many reasons behind this include: the victim considering the violence a private and personal matter and would be of no use for others outside the circle to know. The victim may be afraid of retaliation from the offender. This is especially true if the perpetrator is a family member, and the victim usually chooses to just suffer consequences of the abuse instead of compromising the personal relationship with the perpetrator. The victim may also believe that the police would do nothing about. She may question the magnanimity of her case, as it may not be so important to merit a report. Some violence will not leave an injury, and for some victims this does not constitute seriousness that require reporting to the proper authorities. If sexual assault was involved, the victim may be too embarrassed to report such an “intimate” act if perpetrated by someone she is in a relationship with (Coumarelos & Allen, 1999).
A study by Ehlers, et al (1998) studied how women painfully relive their rape episodes with overwhelming negative emotions. They usually realize that during the experience, their disempowerment by their assailant caused them to vacillate between “mental planning” and “mental defeat”. One coping strategy during the rape experience is “mentally planning in one’s mind about what she might be able to do to minimize physical or psychological harm just to make the experience tolerable or to influence the behavior of the assailant” (Ehlers, et al, 1998, p. 461) On the other hand, “mental defeat refers to the victim’s perception that she gave up in her own mind and was completely defeated” (Ehlers, et al. 1998, p. 461). The study provides evidence of mental defeat of some rape victims such as: “her description of feeling completely at the will of the assailant, her description that she lost the sense of being a person with her own will, statements that she did not feel like a human being any longer, her wish/acceptance that she was dying, or a sexual response during the rape which she perceived as defeat.” (p.461). Imagine such agonizing thoughts haunting the victim every single day -thoughts that render the victim unable to fulfill her usual tasks and leave her helpless in pursuing a normal lifestyle. These are blatant symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress syndrome (PTSD). One implication of the study is that the relationship between mental planning and treatment outcomes of women undergoing PTSD reflects the role of perceived uncontrollability which is a crucial variable in determining the aversiveness of a negative event (e.g., Foa et al., 1989; Foa, Zinbarg, & Rothbaum, 1992; Mineka, 1985 as mentioned in the study of Ehlers et al, 1998). “Mental planning can be understood as attempts to exert control over the situation (see also Burgess & Holmstrom, 1976), even if the control was minimal or symbolic, such as a victim not wanting to show the rapist that she was crying. Lack of mental planning may therefore reflect the patients’ perception that the situation is totally uncontrollable. However, mental defeat may go beyond uncontrollability.” (Ehlers et al, 1998, p. 467) Disempowerment is the direct consequence of such a life-changing negative experience.
Proposed Social Program: Crime Prevention & Intervention Strategies for Women Victims
Van Dijk & De Waard (1991) define crime prevention as “the total of all private initiatives and state policies, other than the enforcement of criminal law, aimed at the reduction of damage caused by acts defined as criminal by the state” (p. 483). This definition paints a picture of cooperation between agencies in the pursuit of lower crime rates.
“Every crime requires three ingredients: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardians” (Graycar & Grabosky, 2002, p. 7). Having identified those, bring more focus to the objectives of crime prevention. Obviously, what needs to be done is to reduce, if not extinguish motivation for prospective offenders and making crime more difficult to commit. That is the challenge for crime fighters. Negative forces that aim to inflict harm on our fellowmen whether covertly or discreetly need to be anticipated. Agencies involved must become a step ahead of criminal minds to thwart their evil plans in forming new crimes. Together with the government’s regulatory controls, agencies networked with the proposed social program need to cooperate with each other to efficiently and effectively prevent and deter criminality (Graycar & Grabosky, 2002).
Prevention strategies need to be customized to a special target or client group (ex. adolescents, housewives, etc.) applying to age and gender groups as well as cultural groups. This proposal identifies women as the special target group. Homel (1999) points out two key approaches in domestic violence prevention namely Criminal justice and community based approaches.
“Criminal justice responses include: police initiatives such as mandatory arrest and alarms and pre-programmed mobile phones; court-based violence prevention orders; and the ‘Dulith’ model, which combines legal coercion with support for victims and education and rehabilitation for offenders.
“Community-based approaches include: assertiveness training and empowerment techniques for victims; holistic, ‘healing processes’ in indigenous communities; shelters and follow-up support for victims; children’s access programs that provide facilities for the safe hand over of children; and education programs for violent men.” (Homel, 1999, p.346)
It is evident from the above that a multi-agency approach is best upheld to help support women from violence. The stakeholders of such an approach include women, their children, if any, and the agencies concerned. The criminal justice approach is more publicized, involving the police and the legal department. The community-based approaches draw women to resources found in their community to empower them as women. Assertiveness and self-defence trainings may be held at local centres, and these may be publicized for more and more women to join.
Educational training for women constitutes a great role in crime prevention programs. It was pointed out that victims have apprehensions to even report her abuse. That is why it would be useful to standardize the types of violence and its categorization as private, minor or major enough to be reported. Victims’ needs should likewise be identified and determined if these can be met through the current criminal justice system and existing victim services.
Of course, the victims’ immediate needs take priority. If crimes against women are not prevented, then intervention efforts must be effected to remedy the damage, if possible. Should she sustain injuries, then medical attention is provided. If psychological intervention is necessary, then the agency in charge should provide. Services to recover from an assault must be disseminated among the women in the community not only to prevent future problems but more importantly to be offered for the victims’ personal refuge and healing.
The other standard crime prevention strategies applicable to other crimes that are of more or less in degree should also apply to crimes against women. Streets should be adequately well-lighted, a community watch should be enforced among members of the community, liquor and drugs should be sold discriminately, and dissemination of information about respecting women and the consequences of crimes against them must be campaigned in schools and community events.
Financial Aspect
Every new program necessitates finances. The proposed social program is soliciting support from the local government to allot some funding for it since it would greatly benefit a lot of its constituents. It would heighten awareness on crime prevention and the rights of women.
Apart from the government, a non-government organization involved with the welfare of women and children may also be tapped to allot funding for this project. Fund raisings and benefit projects will likewise be raised by prominent women in society to show their support for the worthy cause of this project. Donations of goods and services shall also be solicited from organizations directly related to the cause.
For the particular program proposed, the following items are included in the monthly budget. The following “skeleton” budget represents basic expenses expected for a start-up program. All items are estimated amounts and my change depending on inflation rates:
Venue Rental
The venue should have facilities for a reception area, an office of the administrator, an open room for training sessions for women (empowerment and self-defense training), a small counselling room, 2 toilets, 1 bathroom, and a minimum of 2 bedrooms for temporary housing of victims, if they should need it)
Salaries
Administrator
(oversees the operations of the program; networks with different agencies involved against crime prevention for women; accepts cases of women victims; schedules training, therapy sessions and court hearings for victims; follows up on policies necessary for the crime prevention for women)
Social Workers
(deals with women victims and their families by providing training and counselling sessions; follows up on various individuals/ organizations concerns regarding the rights of the victims; checks and updates records of victims)
Clerks
(manages files of the program, victims, does bookkeeping of the operations; manages office supplies)
Aides
(assists social workers; maintains the safety, security and cleanliness of the venue; manages cleaning/ kitchen supplies necessary in the operations; prepares meals for the staff/victims)
Utilities
(electricity, water, gas, telephone & other communication bills)
Supplies
- Office (paper, ink, other office supplies)
- Kitchen and food supply
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Miscellaneous
(for training/ counselling expenses; emergency fund)
One-time/ Seasonal Expenses
- Permits & Licenses
- Equipment (Computers; Printer; Fax machines; Mobile Phones; Telephones; Answering machine; Photocopying Machine)
- Furnishings/ Furniture (Kitchen appliances; Reception furniture (sofa, coffee table, visitor chairs, etc.); Filing Cabinet; Office tables and chairs
Flow of funds will be documented well and be readily available to stakeholders. Bank accounts will be named after the social project with the project head and the sponsoring organisation representative as signatories. Financial reports will be furnished to stakeholders at the end of every quarter.
Staffing
Highly competent and personable staff with unquestionable integrity and strength of character shall be selected to run the project. Their performance will be appraised constantly by stakeholders to ensure that quality of service is sustained throughout the project.
It takes so much commitment and dedication to be an effective worker in such a social program, not to mention the skills and knowledge one must possess in order to carry out his or her job well. However, such high regard given to their wisdom by clients must not go to his or her head. “It is therefore most important that the social worker should maintain an appropriate distance and indicates to the client the limits on any possibilities of assistance: the social worker cannot do everything, has limited time available, and so on. At the same time, there is a never-say-die attitude necessary, and all possibilities that may offer a perspective on the future are examined together with the client, however limited they may be. This attitude also serves to protect the social workers themselves, who otherwise run the risks of themselves being dragged into the delusion that they are able to solve all the client’s problems.” (Van Nijnatten, 2006, p. 140). Social workers must be wary of this messianic belief as it may overwhelm them into thinking they are all-important, and may develop an attitude of superiority. They must always keep in mind that they belong to the human service profession and not in any way involved in their own ego-boosting.
Evaluation & Conclusion
The success of the proposed Social Program for the Management of Crimes Against Women lies on the outcome of the participants after undergoing it. Their active and relevant participation in all aspects of the program is one measure of the program’s effectiveness. Women will become more confident in protecting themselves. As for the victims of crime, coming out as empowered women after undergoing training and counseling will help them in easing back to their normal lives after the trauma.
As for the rest of the community, the obvious result of lessened, if not eradicated crimes against women will definitely spell success in the project’s attempt to sustain peace and order in society.
References
Burgess, A. W., & Holmstrom, L. L. (1976). Coping behavior of the rape victim. American Journal of Psychiatry, 133, 413-418.
Coumarelos, C & Allen, J (1999), ‘Predicting women’s responses to violence: The 1996 Women’s Safety Survey, in Crime and Justice Bulletin. Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 47, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Sydney, pp. 1-22.
Ehlers, A.,. Clark, D. M., Dunmore, Jaycox, L., Meadows, E. and Foa, E.B (1998) “Predicting Response to Exposure Treatment in PTSD: The Role of Mental Defeat and Alienation.”, Journal of Traumatic Stress, Vol. 11, No. 3.
Foa, E. B., Steketee, G., & Rothbaum, B. O. (1989). Behavioral/cognitive conceptualizations of post-traumatic stress disorder. Behavior Therapy, 20, 155-176.
Foa, E. B., Zinbarg, R., & Rothbaum, B. O. (1992). Uncontrollability and unpredictability in post-traumatic stress disorder: An animal model. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 218-238.
Graycar, A & Grabosky, P. (2002) ‘Trends in Australian crime and criminal justice’, in The Cambridge handbook of Australian criminology, eds A.
Graycar & P Grabosky, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne, pp. 7-26.
Homel, R (1999), ‘Domestic violence’, in Preventing violence: A review of the literature on violence and violence prevention, A report prepared for the Crime Prevention Division of the NSW Attorney General’s Department, Sydney, pp. 346‑381.
Mineka, S. (1985). Animal models of anxiety-based disorders. In A. H. Tuma & J. D. Maser (Eds.), Anxiety and the anxiety disorders (pp. 199-244). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Van Dijk, J & De Waard, J. (1991), ‘A two-dimensional typology of crime prevention projects’, Criminal Justice Abstracts, 483.
Van Nijnatten, C. (2006) “Finding the words: social work from a developmental perspective” Journal of Social Work Practice Vol. 20, No. 2006, pp. 133–144.