| There are millions of domestic violence and abuse | | | | she claimed that the episode never happened and |
| victims around the world, although not all situations | | | | that the police made the whole thing up. She even |
| come to the attention of law enforcement officials. | | | | accused the police of writing her witness statement |
| Victims of domestic violence rely on the police to | | | | themselves. The man was released from jail, and a |
| protect them, but many victims are reluctant to | | | | few days later the victim was assaulted again. The |
| report such crimes because of their fear of reprisals. | | | | police believe that fear of reprisal was one of the |
| Victims of abuse need to find ways to get out of | | | | reasons the victim recanted, although it didn't protect |
| explosive situations safely, without turning to crime | | | | her from the next attack. |
| themselves. One woman shot and killed her husband | | | | Police report alcohol or drug abuse being a factor in |
| while he was asleep in bed. Why? She told the police | | | | the majority of domestic violence situations. |
| she had been a victim of domestic abuse for ten | | | | However, not all batterers are under the influence of |
| years, but she feared her husband too much to | | | | anything other than their own craving to control |
| report the abuse to the police. | | | | others. |
| One woman confided her husband's abuse to a | | | | Abuse victims often stay with their abusers because |
| friend, but when the friend told the police, the victim | | | | they feel that suffering the abuse is safer than trying |
| denied the allegation. | | | | to escape. It can also be difficult to get away from |
| A domestic violence victim once called the police to | | | | an abuser and start a new life when there are |
| report her intoxicated common-law husband was | | | | children, jobs, houses and other factors involved. |
| holding her and her daughter hostage with a rifle. The | | | | Leaving the abuser should be of paramount |
| police arrested the suspect and the victim wrote a | | | | importance, not only for the victim's safety, but for |
| detailed witness statement. However, the next day | | | | that of the children as well. |