NCJ Number
178685
Editor(s)
Patricia G. Barnes
Date Published
1998
Length
407 pages
Annotation
This second of three volumes that document the history of Western society's response to domestic violence addresses the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence, including the current trend toward prosecution of batterers, controversy over the limitations of the "battered woman's syndrome," and the discovery of the crime of stalking.
Abstract
Excerpts are presented from the Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence as well as the Final Report of the Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence. Six papers pertain to the law enforcement response to domestic violence. These papers examine the degree to which law enforcement efforts have been effective in protecting women from violence in their homes. One paper identifies risk markers for homicide by an abuser. Also presented are the recommendations for reducing domestic violence developed by the Summit of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Three papers examine the effectiveness of mandatory arrest for persons alleged to have perpetrated domestic violence, and seven papers focus on the prosecution of domestic violence cases. Other papers address the following topics: the battered woman syndrome, marital rape, domestic violence as a Federal crime, stalking, the involvement of firearms in domestic violence, and how to deal with batterers. 33 references