Why Doesn't She Leave? Civil Protection Orders for Low-Income Women Facing Economic Abuse

Abstract

Economic abuse is a serious form of domestic violence that is devastating to women of low socioeconomic status. Victims of this abuse should be given the opportunity to tailor a civil protection order to meet their needs in remedying this abuse. This flexibility must allow lowincome women the option of remaining in the relationship for personal or financial reasons. Accordingly, the United States should mirror the international community’s evolution towards expanding domestic violence legislation to encompass economic abuse. [From Conclusion]