nderstand what the woman is going through, what she was thinking at the time she committed the crime, and that she did it (murder her abuser) it because she honestly felt that it was the only solution in getting the cycle of violence. First, the women must show that she is able to prove either through her own testimony or through the testimony of other witnesses that she is a battered woman. She must then provide proof that the expert who she has chosen is qualified in the field. Some think that the defense based on Battered Woman Syndrome is an insanity defense, because of the experts who are brought in to explain the characteristics of the syndrome, psychologists or psychiatrists. Also because the word syndrome is often used to describe mental illnesses. First her husband, now the courts, is what one of the signs read at a march during the third trial of Idalia Mejia in 1978(Gillespie 165). In addition to the violent husband and the courts filled with prosecutors and confused jurors abuse a woman once she has tried to protect herself, but so do the police. Police officers receive little training in dealing with domestic violence cases. The techniques are usually to defuse the situation. Rarely do officers make an arrest. Police departments have what is called stitch rule this is a victim needs to have a certain amount of stitches before officers are required to make an arrest. People always ask the same question, well why did she call for help? When the woman finals builds up the courage to actually call the police for help, they arrive to do nothing for her except maybe make situation worst. The worst part of the authorities failing in helping a person is when these people (police officers, prosecutors) believe that they have no business in the next mans business. Some also believe that beating your wife is not important enough for the criminal courts; and those who file a complaint are just trying to manipulate their h...
