Self Defense Content Topic Results

Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 19:11:08 +0000

Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/22/2014 - 15:11

General Material

Published Date

May, 2017

Publisher(s)

This document analyzes the most recent federal data available, which shows that private citizens use guns to harm themselves or others far more often than to kill in self-defense. The study analyzes data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) and cites survey data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). It finds that in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, there were only 224 justifiable homicides involving a private citizen using a firearm reported to the SHR. Eighteen states reported zero justifiable homicides in 2014. That year, there were 7,670 criminal firearm homicides.

Associated Links

2017 Report

2013 Report

Material Categories

Raising Awareness

Criminal Justice

Homicide / Lethality

Self Defense

What role can self-defense classes play in our efforts to prevent sexual violence?

berdman — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:10:12 +0000

What role can self-defense classes play in our efforts to prevent sexual violence? berdman Tue, 11/28/2017 - 11:10

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Published Date

March, 2016

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Karen Stahl

There is increasing research showing that both survivors and non-survivors report positive experiences with trauma-informed self-defense classes that include psychological skills and assertiveness training. In NRCDV's March 2016 TA Question of the month, Karen Stahl explores the role of self-defense classes in sexual violence prevention efforts.

See more TAQs on NRCDV's news blog.

Associated Links

What role can self-defense classes play in our efforts to prevent sexual violen…

NRCDV News Blog

Material Categories

Prevention Programming

Self Defense

Sexual Violence

Women’s Experiences of Abuse as a Risk Factor for Incarceration: A Research Update

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 16:54:03 +0000

Women’s Experiences of Abuse as a Risk Factor for Incarceration: A Research Update Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/30/2016 - 12:54

NRCDV Publications

General Material

Published Date

July, 2015

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

VAWnet: The National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women

Author(s)

Melissa E. Dichter

Sue Osthoff

This paper provides an update to Mary Gilfus’ (2002) publication on the pathways from victimization to incarceration among women and girls, based on the relevant research published in the past 12 years. This research provides additional findings about the extent of victimization experienced by women and girls under correctional control, and a deeper understanding of the ways in which experience of victimization can lead to incarceration. Understanding these pathways and risk factors for incarceration can inform approaches to working with, and on behalf of, women and girls who have been incarcerated or who are at risk of incarceration.

Research Findings

Recent research finds that the vast majority of incarcerated women reported having experienced some form of interpersonal trauma in their lifetimes prior to their incarceration. Experiences of physical or sexual violence in childhood are reported by approximately 60-70% of incarcerated women or girls. Experiences of adulthood intimate partner violence are reported by approximately 70-80% of incarcerated women.
There are multiple pathways from victimization to incarceration among women and girls:
Many of the behaviors that lead to arrest and incarceration of women and girls – including running away/ fleeing, self-medicating with drugs to dull psychological and physical pain, and using violence in defense or retaliation – are strategies that women and girls use for coping with and escaping violence and abuse.
Victimization can lead to economic strain and limited opportunities for financial independence, leaving women and girls to engage in criminalized activities such as drug sales, commercial sex work, and theft or fraud.
Abusive partners or caregivers may coerce women and girls into criminalized activity (such as violence, theft, commercial sex work, drug sale), or into taking the blame for such activities, under threat of further violence.
Abusive partners may also falsely accuse women of engaging in criminalized activities and manipulate the criminal legal system to have women arrested and incarcerated.
Criminal legal system policies and practices may fail to recognize the relevance of victimization in the context of women’s and girls’ behaviors and experiences.

Additionally, bias and prejudice may increase vulnerability to incarceration among women and girls who are homeless, experiencing mental distress, and using substances, all of which are associated with victimization, as well as those who are marginalized through race, ethnicity, immigration status, and other demographic factors.

Conclusions

Recognizing the context of victimization is critical in understanding girls’ and women’s actions and experiences, particularly with regard to involvement in the criminal legal system. In cases of women accused of or charged with crimes, it is important to assess for abuse, coercion, self-defense, and system manipulation, and to understand and recognize direct and indirect effects of victimization and cumulative trauma. Timely, sufficient, and effective protection and support interventions may help to reduce women’s engagement with criminal activity. Additionally, thorough and sensitive individualized case assessment can help to avoid unjustified or misapplied incarceration. Services in correctional settings, and to assist women post-release from correctional settings, may help girls and women achieve recovery and independence.

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
Women’s Experiences of Abuse as a Risk Factor for Incarceration: A Research Update	496.4 KB

Material Categories

Core Competencies

Trauma Informed Approach

What is the connection between firearms and domestic violence homicides?

ckeene — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:56:24 +0000

What is the connection between firearms and domestic violence homicides? ckeene Tue, 09/27/2016 - 09:56

NRCDV Publications

General Material

Published Date

September, 2013

Publisher(s)

Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

This form offers taking points for advocates on the connection between firearms and domestic violence homicides. Recent, fully cited statistics are provided to assist advocates in engaging the media and raising awareness of this important issue.

Associated Links

What is the connection between firearms and domestic violence homicides?

Engaging The Media: 3-Legged Stool Talking Points Forms

Material Categories

Media Advocacy / Literacy

Domestic Violence

Homicide / Lethality

Self Defense

Working with Battered Women in Jail: A Manual for Community-Based Battered Women's Advocates

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 15:01:25 +0000

Working with Battered Women in Jail: A Manual for Community-Based Battered Women's Advocates Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/26/2014 - 11:01

General Material

Published Date

November, 2009

Publisher(s)

National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women (NCDBW)

It is our hope that this manual will challenge assumptions, foster critical thinking, and provide a fundamental understanding of the needs of battered women in jail. Our goal is to support an ever-expanding community of people providing effective advocacy to battered women in jail.

Associated Links

Working with Battered Women in Jail: A Manual for Community-Based Battered Wome…

Material Categories

Nontraditional Programming

Trauma Informed Approach

Towards an Understanding of Women's Use of Non-Lethal Violence in Intimate Heterosexual Relationships

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 20:20:35 +0000

Towards an Understanding of Women's Use of Non-Lethal Violence in Intimate Heterosexual Relationships Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/10/2014 - 15:20

NRCDV Publications

General Material

Published Date

February, 2001

Publisher(s)

VAWnet: The National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Shamita Das Dasgupta

Recently, the domestic violence movement has been confronted with an extraordinary twist of circumstances. Advocates and practitioners around the country have begun to notice an increase in dual arrests of men and women as well as an increase in only women being arrested and charged with domestic violence. Detractors of the anti-violence against women movement have hailed these arrests as proofs of gender neutrality of family violence. However, research on women's use of violence against intimate male partners leads to different conclusions:

The majority of women who use violence against their male partners are battered themselves;
The assessment of men's and women's violence towards their intimate partners as fundamentally similar arises from conflation of the terms 'battering' and 'violence' as well as decontextualization of violent actions;
Women's violent behavior towards their heterosexual partners is substantially different from men's on historical, cultural, systemic, situational, and individual grounds;
Women's abusive behaviors towards their heterosexual partners emerge from various motivations including self defense, retaliation, reclaiming self respect, and controlling of abusers' violence; and
Women from different cultural backgrounds may view violence differently. Many cultures may not consider physical aggression to be much of a taboo for women. Cross-cultural perspectives must be taken seriously in a pluralistic society such as the U.S. A limited approach to women's violence may lead to myopic policy development and inappropriate criminal justice responses towards diverse communities.
Women's use of force against their male partners needs to be recognized by their contexts that include socio-cultural backgrounds, family and community networks, systems and institutions of intervention, motivations and intentions, immediate situations, as well as consequences;
By equating women's violence to men's, the criminal justice and other intervening systems evaluate women's behavior by standards established for men's violence. Such an assessment is not only invalid, it leads to inappropriate and unjust responses.

Associated Files

Attachment	Size
Towards an Understanding of Women's Use of Non-Lethal Violence in Intimate Heterosexual Relationships	270.78 KB

Material Categories

Counseling & Crisis Intervention

Staff Development

Civil Legal Rights & Protections

A Deadly Myth: Women, Handguns, and Self-Defense

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:58:35 +0000

A Deadly Myth: Women, Handguns, and Self-Defense Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/17/2014 - 12:58

General Material

Published Date

January, 2001

Publisher(s)

Violence Policy Center (VPC)

Author(s)

Karen Brock

This VPC report, which analyzes 1998 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR), indicates that a woman is far more likely to be the victim of a handgun homicide than to use a handgun in a justifiable homicide. In 1998, for every time a woman used a handgun to kill in self-defense, 101 women were murdered with a handgun. The report concludes that before a woman purchases a handgun for protection, she must consider "whether the grave risk (…) is one she is willing to accept."

Associated Links

A Deadly Myth: Women, Handguns, and Self-Defense

Material Categories

Attitudes / Perception / Awareness