NCJ Number
158431
Date Published
1988
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Intended for use by police, this training videotape depicts a case of spouse abuse and provides step-by-step instructions for the most effective and safe actions that police should take.
Abstract
The narrator presents statistics about domestic assault, noting that it is the single major cause of injuries to women. It also explores and refutes common myths about spouse abuse. The discussion emphasizes the criminal justice system's responsibility for intervening in cases of domestic violence and making clear the message that spouse abuse is illegal. The narrator also emphasizes the use of arrest as a means of forcing the batterer to seek professional help to change the behavior. The dramatization portrays a middle-class suburban family in which the abuse escalates rapidly from yelling and name calling to throwing items, shoving, and kicking the wife, who calls the police. Police responding to domestic assault calls are advised to park for tactical advantage, separate the victim from the suspect, determine the victim's condition and whether a weapon was used, and decide whether to arrest. Statements from actual victims