Abstract
This Comment explains how the Washington legislature and court system have failed to provide abused men with much needed protection, despite a law that is facially gender neutral. Following this Introduction, Part II explores the wording of Washington's domestic violence statutes and analyzes the current implementing regulations. Part III demonstrates that the problem of abused men is legitimate by examining increasing social awareness and the results of current studies. By examining the prevailing national viewpoint embodied in the Violence Against Women Act, Part IV discusses how such a viewpoint adversely affects the availability of resources for abused men. Part V looks at how the judiciary interprets domestic violence law. In conclusion, Part VI posits ideas on how Washington State can improve its treatment of abused men in order to conform to the gender-neutral language of its statute and remedy this important, though often secret, problem.
Recommended Citation
Melody M. Crick, Access Denied: The Problem of Abused Men in Washington, 27 SEATTLE U. L. REV. 1035 (2004).
