NCJ Number
97825
Date Published
1982
Length
270 pages
Annotation
This manual discusses violence against women, examines the relationship between an advocate and a battered client, and explores English civil and criminal remedies and sources of aid available to that client.
Abstract
Principles of the advocate-client relationship are reviewed, with emphasis on interviewing, screening, and pro se issues, such as the client's ability to speak and read English. An overview of civil proceedings is supplied, and the processes of obtaining and enforcing orders are discussed. Domestic problems in divorce are reviewed; relief for unmarried women is highlighted; and child-related problems such as support, custody, visitation, and child-snatching are considered. The need for attorneys to protect the confidentiality of the plaintiff's address is emphasized. The relationship of criminal and civil proceedings is explored: most acts of domestic violence fall under both civil and criminal jurisdiction. The role of the advocate in criminal proceedings is delineated and the decision to use the criminal justice system is discussed. The advocate's relationships with the police and the prosecutor are described. Social services alternatives to the criminal justice process, such as diversion and mediation, are explored; special problems of marital rape are considered. Sources of financial assistance for battered women, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children, are identified. Finally, court cases challenging battered women's gains are noted; special problems faced by rural domestic violence victims are reported.