VARIATIONS ACROSS AGENCY TYPES IN PERCEPTIONS OF SERIOUSNESS OF FAMILY ABUSE

A statewide survey of criminal justice and social service agencies was analyzed to investigate the similarities and differences in responses to items tapping perceived seriousness of various types of family violence. Results showed that child abuse was consistently considered more serious and of higher priority than spouse abuse. Responses indicating concern for victims of spouse abuse in agency priorities were contradicted by the relatively low level of criminal sanctions advocated for spouse abuse and by low levels of interest in receiving training in the area of spouse abuse. Spouse abuse shelters were the only agencies consistently showing high priorities and high levels of involvement in spouse-abuse issues. © 1990.