Date of Conferral

10-8-2026

Date of Award

October 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Dearis Hoard

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects women in the United States. Despite protective legislation and institutional protocols, limited understanding exists of how systemic failures within criminal justice, healthcare, and social service systems affect survivors’ healing, trust, and future help-seeking. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of women survivors of IPV who interacted with these systems. Feminist theory and institutional betrayal theory were used as the theoretical framework. The research questions were framed to address survivors’ experiences of systemic failures and the influence of those failures on healing, institutional trust, and willingness to seek assistance. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit seven women who had survived IPV and interacted with at least two institutional systems. Data were collected through semistructured telephone interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: Institutional Betrayal Through Dismissive and Inconsistent Responses, Barriers to Coordinated Services and Support, Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Systemic Failure, and Survivor Resilience and Recommendations for Improvement. Findings supported institutional betrayal theory by demonstrating how institutional actions and omissions intensified survivors’ harm. Recommendations include strengthening cross-system coordination and implementing trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices. The implications for positive social impact include informing professionals and policymakers about institutional responses that may reduce revictimization, strengthen survivors’ trust, and improve access to coordinated support.

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