New Technologies in Domestic Abuse Service Organizations Author's note with contact information, more details on affiliation, etc.

The focus of this paper will be on the organizations that serve victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse victims can be women and men. Domestic abuse is when a spouse or domestic partner physically, emotionally, psychologically, verbally or otherwise abuses a his or her partner. Many victims of domestic abuse do not leave their domestic circumstances because the partner has made them financially or otherwise co-dependent, and many times, the abusive partner uses fear to coerce the abused partner to remain in the relationship. Organizations that service victims of domestic abuse provide services for the abused partner as well as any children or other dependents accompanying the abused partner. Therefore, human service organizations that cater to the needs of domestic abuse victims serve a great need in our culture. These organizations must attain and remain technologically efficient so as to serve their consumers with greater efficacy, acceleration, and depth. This paper will propose technologies for domestic abuse organizations and provide a cost-benefit analysis of the technologies.

New Technologies in Domestic Abuse Service Organizations

The human service organizations this paper will focus upon are those that serve victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is an issue at the forefront...

There are many women, men, and children that suffer from domestic abuse. Mazur and Aldrich contend that
"domestic violence continue[s] unabated. The FBI estimates that a domestic violence crime is committed at a rate of once every fifteen seconds. According to conservative estimates, one million women are battered by an intimate partner annually. Other surveys say the number assaulted each year is as high as four million." (Mazur, Aldrich, 2003)

Before proposing what kind of technology would serve this kind of human service organization best, it is vital to understand what kind of people are serviced by the organizations and why. The technology must be useful, helpful, and realistic if, as Cole states, "the optimistic view holds that some technologies have the power to level the playing field." (Cole, 2007) Proposed technologies should restore power to the victims. How can technology serve the victims best if no consideration for the victim or the services is given before integrating the technology into the organization? If human service organizations do not understand the victims, organizations will not serve them well, if at all.

Domestic abuse centers make the victims feel safe and anonymous. Many victims are in great fear for their lives, especially in the case when the abusive partner becomes aware of their escape. Providing a sense of safety is vital within these centers. Domestic…