Using the justice system as a ‘magic wand:’ lessons from victims of domestic violence in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Figures & data

Table 1. Research stays

Period One (10.12.2012–30.01.2013)	Understood the set-up of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and its strategy towards ensuring access to justice and conflict resolution. Improved and adjusted the research design. Undertook observations during meetings held by service providers with Victims. Developed an interview guide^29 to collect further data from Victims in Periods Two and Three.
Period Two (27.06.2013–15.08.2013)	Spent seven days at each of the five the Public Prosecutor’s Office units during working hours (8:00 to 20:00). Used a tripartite design to collect data from Victims. First: approached Victims when they arrived at the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Explained purpose and asked for consent. Provided a questionnaire to complete autonomously while waiting to be assisted. Second: requested consent to attend, observed and took notes during the meetings Victims had with service providers at the Public Prosecutor’s Office to learn about the facts and to avoid question repetition, re-victimisation. Third: remained in the room with the Victims, service provider left, and asked again for consent to be interviewed and to record the interview. Conducted in-depth interviews using responsive interviewing techniques and an interview guide (Rubin and Rubin 2012, p. 30–38). Interviews lasted approximately thirty to forty minutes each.
Six months after Period Two. The urgency of domestic violence cases should provide a legal solution within that time frame.
Period Three (14.01.2014–28.02.2014)	Contacted Victims for second interviews. Conducted in-depth interviews with open-ended questions together with a short questionnaire that intended to capture information on work, living conditions, consumption level of daily goods, activities, and social life to compare it to the information collected in first interviews.

Table 2. Sample characteristics

Gender	53 women
	1 man
Age	Between 17–69 years old^30
	Majority concentrated between 22–47 years old
Income	Employed ≥ 65%
	Retired or seasonal job ≥ 5%
	Without an income ≤ 30%
Nationality	Argentinean = 84%
	Border countries = 16%
Social context (1 or more)	98%
Education	Primary incomplete ≥ 6%^31
	Primary complete ≥ 12%
	High school incomplete ≥ 14%
	High school complete ≥ 20%
	Tertiary education incomplete ≥ 10%
	Tertiary education complete ≥ 10%
	University incomplete ≥ 16%
	University complete ≥ 8%
Children	80%^32
Multiple problems	50% 1^st: economic problems (e.g. employment, debts and credits, and housing) 2^nd: physical, psychological, and/or social problems

Figure 1. Problems solved for victims.

Figure 2. Problems solved for PPO.

Figure 3. Choosing organisations.

Rubin, H.J., and Rubin, I.S., 2012. Qualitative interviewing: the art of hearing data. SAGE Publications doi:https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452226651.

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