NCJ Number
181029
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Special Issue Dated: Spring 1999 Pages: 1-12
Date Published
1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The central thesis in this article is that the criminal justice system needs to better recognize the special needs of children who are exposed to domestic violence.
Abstract
Even in cases in which there are no observable injuries, children's adjustment and development can be seriously jeopardized by witnessing one parent who abuses another parent. Being raised in a climate of fear, having poor conflict resolution models, and observing the abuse of power in intimate relationships can have long-term detrimental consequences for children and adolescents. The article recognizes domestic violence as a widespread and pernicious phenomenon, describes characteristics of perpetrators, and examines the risks to children from living with a perpetrator of domestic violence. Problems for child victims that are created by the existing custody dispute resolution system are considered, and the authors suggest that domestic violence should be a primary consideration in child custody decisions. 84 endnotes and 2 tables