What percentage of battered women are killed after they sign a restraining order. My neighbor (who is a battered woman) says it is 75%. I would find out if that is true, and if not, what the real numbers are. Thanks

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

Answers

I can only answer for MA. In 2000, there were 35,000 restraining orders issued. There were 22 women killed via domestic violence. 6 had active restraining orders. Reasons for 35,000 restraining orders: 29% STATED they were abused. 71% STATED they were afraid of abuse. 35,000 times (almost all men) an individual was arrested, placed on a permanent database as an abuser, kept from his own home, (and when used in divorce proceedings) kept from contact with his children, no longer allowed to own a gun, no longer allowed to drink alcohol, placed on 'pre-probation', many times loosing their jobs and denied due process to clear himself. All on the unsubstantiated word of a female accuser.

http://www.state.ma.us/ccj/dvfact.htm

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2003