NCJ Number
65507
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE TESTIMONY OF AN AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CHILD AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE NEEDS FOR CURBING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES DESCRIBES THE RECENT EMPHASIS ON SPOUSE AND ADOLESCENT ABUSE THAT HAS NATURALLY GROWN OUT OF AN INITIAL FOCUS ON INFANT AND CHILD ABUSE. IT IS NOTED THAT, ALTHOUGH ADOLESCENTS TO AGE 18 ARE COVERED UNDER CHILD ABUSE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, THESE SYSTEMS HAVE NOT DEVELOPED THE CAPACITY TO DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH THE PROBLEM. BATTERED SPOUSES HAVE NO LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST ABUSE; AND NEITHER CASE MANAGEMENT NOR REPORTING SYSTEMS FOR MEDICAL CASES IN WHICH ABUSE IS SUSPECTED HAS BEEN INSTITUTED FOR ABUSED SPOUSES. THREE PRIMARY ROLES ARE ASSIGNED TO THE PSYCHIATRIST IN CURBING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THESE INCLUDE CONTRIBUTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY DYNAMICS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY TO THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS WORKING IN THE AREA OF FAMILY VIOLENCE; BRINGING KNOWLEDGE OF RESEARCH ON VIOLENCE, FAMILY DYNAMICS, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT TO BEAR ON SPECIFIC AREAS OF RESEARCH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND TRAINING OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, IN THE PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS OF INTERVENTION IN FAMILY CRISIS SITUATIONS. FOUR MAJOR NEEDS MUST BE MET TO CURB DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: PROVIDING INCREASED SERVICE POTENTIAL TO ALL GROUPS OF ABUSED PERSONS (PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE DISPARATE NEEDS AND TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES OF EACH GROUP); TRAINING ADEQUATE NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL TO STAFF NATIONAL PROGRAMS; INCREASING RESEARCH EFFORTS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY UNIQUE FACTORS IN ADOLESCENT AND SPOUSE ABUSE; AND PROVIDING ADEQUATE FUNDS TO MEET SERVICE, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH NEEDS. ONCE FAMILY VIOLENCE IS 'BROUGHT OUT OF THE CLOSET' AND DESTIGMATIZED, RESEARCH AND SERVICES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP ELIMINATE THE ROOTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.