NCJ Number
166624
Date Published
1996
Length
286 pages
Annotation
Intended for victims of domestic abuse and their loved ones, criminal justice personnel, social service workers, and counselors, this book is a guide on how to recognize, prevent, terminate, and survive domestic violence.
Abstract
Part I opens with an overview of domestic violence that addresses the definition, origins, consequences, victims, demographics, reporting, the dynamics of abuse, and statistics on domestic violence. Part I also contains a section that instructs readers on the warning signs of abusive tendencies in both new and established relationships, followed by a discourse on prevention techniques. Part II is for those persons who are beyond the benefits of early recognition and prevention and are involved in victimization. It discusses marital rape, date rape, stalking, prank phone calls, outside interference, child abuse, and special cases of abuse. A discussion of victimization is followed by a review of relevant civil and criminal legislation, as well as the origin of procedural issues related to the court system. Part III focuses on the help available for victims of domestic violence. The discussion is under the topics of protection, intervention, and representation. Part IV addresses criminal justice intervention. This includes a police investigation that may result in the arrest of the abuser and prosecution through the court. Readers are guided through criminal case processing. Part V considers how the criminal justice system can benefit both the abused and the abuser by ending violence through such means as diversion, incarceration, and rehabilitation. The concluding section examines conciliation, which may be an option in limited cases, termination and the stay-go dilemma, and recuperation. A 17-item bibliography, a list of national resources, a listing of relevant internet web pages, and a subject index