Stephanie Tapia, Manuel Frausto, & Dr. Daniel Sandoval
An approved restraining order for domestic violence victims is important as it serves as a legal protection mechanism to ensure the safety of the victim. This restraining order establishes a legally enforceable boundary between the victim and the abuser. Domestic Violence victims can have multiple factors that influence the likelihood of them returning to a justice center for help. There are even cases where they are granted a restraining order against their offender and return months later. This qualitative research study aims to explore the relationship between restraining orders that are granted at a Family Justice Center and recidivism rates among individuals involved in domestic violence cases. The objective of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of how restraining orders affect the likelihood of the victim returning to the center. This research will apply a qualitative approach, utilizing information from the FJC Intake Data 2023. We will also be reading the notes of what happens in the process of receiving a granted restraining order. Consequently, multiple factors will also be taken into account: race/ethnicity, age,
language and gender.Restraining orders can be effective in reducing recidivism in connection to victims coming back to the center because their abuser reoffends. However, the effectiveness of a restraining order can depend on several factors like: the severity of the offense, if the abuser followed the order, or the availability of support services the victim counts on. Our research question is the following: What factors in regards to getting an approved Restraining Order affect the turnover rate for victims coming back to the Family Justice Center?