Their study looked at more than 200 violent felony cases. A total of 32 percent were dismissed at the point of going to trial. The criminal justice system cannot end violence. The culture of power grew out of a modern philosophy that people make rational decisions to increase their own benefits. The culture of power defines the jobs of police officers and reinforces a particular world view.
Police officers arrive at domestic violence scenes with certain expectations.
For example, they expect that the woman who initiated the call for help wants the man arrested and will bring charges against him. Police officers become frustrated when these expectations are not met. This frustration can support the myth that the battered woman enjoys her abuse or, at least, willingly prolongs her abuse. Ferraro believes the battered woman lives in a different culture. The battered woman sees a different situation, one in which police officers are unwilling to help resolve the domestic abuse crisis.