Moving towards transformative justice for black women survivors of intimate partner violence: an intersectional qualitative study

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects Black women, yet the current IPV justice response, relying on the criminal legal system, often fails them due to racialized, sexist stereotypes that disrupt Black women's claims to survivorship. Transformative justice, a community-based approach designed to repair harm between the survivor and person who caused harm and transform the social conditions that perpetuate violence, may be a promising alternative approach to facilitate justice and accountability for IPV. However, little is known about the justice preferences of Black women IPV survivors. This qualitative study sought to understand Black women IPV survivors' experiences interacting with police and their justice preferences following IPV.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 15 Black women IPV survivors were conducted between April 2020 and April 2022. Inductive analytic techniques derived from grounded theory were used to contextualize Black women IPV survivors' experiences.

Results: One theme was identified that aligned with Black women IPV survivors' experiences interacting with the police: 1) fear and distrust. Four themes were identified that aligned with justice preferences: (1) resolution through dialogue, (2) therapy and counseling services, (3) resource support, and (4) protection and prevention for children. Fear and distrust of the police was mainly driven by anticipated discrimination. Survivors' justice preferences encompassed solution-based dialogue between the survivor and person who caused harm mediated by family and trusted individuals in the community, therapy services, housing support, and attention to preventing the intergenerational cycle of IPV for children as part of a community-based, holistic justice response.

Conclusions: Police interactions as part of the current justice response were counterproductive for Black women IPV survivors. Black women IPV survivors deserve alternative forms of justice and accountability for IPV. As an alternative justice response to IPV, transformative justice can encompass their justice preferences and promote equity and center Black women IPV survivors and their communities.