Toward a More Effective Criminal Justice Response to Wife Assault: Exploring the Limits and Potential of Effective Intervention

• NCJ Number: 138245
• Author(s): L Macleod; C Picard
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 49 pages
• Corporate Author: Canada Department of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This report examines the response of Canada's criminal justice system to wife abuse and recommends actions to reduce the incidence and impacts of spouse abuse.

Abstract

Data were gathered through discussions with 25 government officials and persons outside government, a literature review, an analysis of the conclusions from four conferences attended by the researchers, interviews with 55 additional government officials, 40 interviews with battered women, focus groups with battered women and others, and seminars. Results revealed that persons concerned with wife abuse and who work inside or outside the criminal justice system are open to change and eager for it. The participants agreed that criminal justice interventions should be based on several principles. These include the provision of victim advocates, improved training for criminal justice personnel, programs that emphasize the accountability of men who batter, removal of the offender and not the victims from the home, reduction of court delays, and the use of a consistent message that wife assault is a serious crime. Lists of recommendations and 20 references