Minority Judges’ Recommendations for Improving Court Services for Battered Women of Color: A Focus Group Report

Abstract

Battered women's ability and willingness to successfully present their issues to the courts is important to their physical well-being and feelings of empowerment. However, women of color, including immigrant women, often do not feel comfortable using the courts to redress their domestic violence grievances. The current study, a focus group interview with six African American and Latina family court judges, is designed to provide a better understanding of how the courts treat women of color and how that treatment can be improved. These judges argue that providing culturally appropriate services should not be viewed as an “add on” to existing programs, but rather are essential to ensuring equal access to justice and fair treatment for some of the system's most vulnerable users.

KEYWORDS:

• intimate partner violence
• criminal justice
• cultural competency
• minority women