Domestic Violence: The Criminal Justice Response, Third Edition

• NCJ Number: 217742
• Author(s): Eve S. Buzawa; Carl G. Buzawa
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 327 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Overview Text
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This third edition provides a detailed analysis of how the criminal justice system has responded to domestic violence includes the findings of new empirical research on how the criminal justice system's responses to domestic violence have changed in the last several years.

Abstract

This edition focuses on the positive impact, limitation, and possible repercussions of the numerous reforms that have been adopted in the criminal justice system's response to domestic-violence victims. The three chapters of Part I pertain to the context of the problem. One chapter discusses the definition and measurement of domestic violence and its impact. Another chapter identifies and analyzes risk markers for offenders and victims. The third chapter considers societal and historical factors in domestic violence. The six chapters of Part II examine the evolving police response to domestic violence. A chapter on the traditional police response and early innovation is followed by a chapter on the influences of political pressure, research, and legal liability in bringing criminal justice innovations in the response to domestic violence. Other chapters in Part II address the development of State and Federal legislation, the evolution of arrest preference in domestic violence calls, factors that affect police response, and variations in police responses to domestic and nondomestic assaults. Part III consists of five chapters on the role of prosecutors and the courts in dealing with domestic violence cases. A review of the classic patterns of nonintervention by the prosecutors and courts is followed by an overview of how the prosecutorial response to domestic violence cases has changed. A chapter then discusses judicial innovations that have involved diversions from the criminal justice system to alternative forums such as mediation and treatment programs. Remaining chapters address restraining and protective orders and innovations in judicial processing and disposition. 616 references and a subject index