Seeking Help for Intimate Partner Violence: Victims' Experiences When Approaching the Criminal Justice System for IPV-Related Support and Protection in an Australian Jurisdiction

The criminal justice system (CJS) frequently encounters victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite these frequent encounters, professionals in the CJS often fail to adequately address victims' needs. The experiences of female IPV victims (N = 29) who approached the CJS in Southeast Queensland, Australia for support and protection are examined throughout this article. Findings from the in-depth interviews reveal that women often face stereotypical and victim-blaming attitudes despite an existing policy environment that promotes victim protection and offender accountability. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.