NCJ Number
199960
Journal
Trauma, Violence, Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 127-147
Date Published
April 2003
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article reviews research on domestic violence, focusing on interventions aimed at reducing revictimization of individuals known to have been previously abused; and it provides a conceptual framework for practitioners and policymakers to situate existing evaluation research.
Abstract
A review of definitions of domestic violence used in research notes that researchers use different definitions of domestic violence and often examine different types of domestic violence. This suggests the need for caution in interpreting statistics about the prevalence of domestic violence, studies that purport to explain domestic violence, and research on "what works." An examination of research on factors associated with domestic violence addresses gender, the influence of alcohol, race/ethnicity, mental disorders and personality traits, family context, and cultural and social context. Also discussed are factors associated with domestic violence at different units of analysis and the theoretical integration or synthesis of diverse theories and findings. In discussing what research has found about reducing domestic violence revictimization, the article considers legal interventions (reporting requirements, protective or restraining orders, arrest, treatment for offenders, criminal prosecution, specialized courts, systemic approaches, and criminal justice personnel training); social service interventions (shelters, peer support groups, and advocacy services); health care interventions (screening, identification, medical care, and mental health services); and collaborative interventions (coordinated community responses, substance abuse and domestic violence treatment, and battered women's shelters). In discussing critical issues in developing interventions to reduce domestic violence revictimization, the article discusses the need for basic research on domestic violence and the need for applied research on intervention effectiveness. The proposed conceptual framework for organizing and guiding research, practice, and policy on reducing domestic violence revictimization has the following major components: domestic violence interventions, intermediate outcomes, and the long-term goal. The article concludes with an appeal for better data and evaluation research and suggestions for pragmatic directions for practice, policy, and research. 1 figure, 52 references, and 5 suggested readings