NCJ Number
177782
Date Published
June 1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Although research indicates most police agencies approach the domestic violence issue from a law enforcement posture, panel discussions with experts in the field of domestic violence and education have revealed interesting implementation strategies for providing domestic violence education.
Abstract
Many studies have documented the effects of children's exposure to violence, both within and outside the family setting. Some of these effects include learning to accept violence as a means of conflict resolution, failing to develop inner controls, learning to maintain control of others by using threats of violence, feeling angry toward one or both parents, experiencing anxiety and fear, protecting the abuser in the face of outside intervention, having sleep disturbances and difficulties in school, learning unhealthy sex role stereotypes from parents, and growing up to be abusers. In response to domestic violence, police departments have formed family or domestic violence units that specifically provide vertical prosecutions of batterers and do some collaborative work with area shelters. No widespread attempts have been made, however, to lessen the prevalence and impact of domestic abuse through a long-term approach of educating young people. Education programs should include not only domestic violence but also dating relationship violence and power and control issues as they relate to the dating environment. These programs can be implemented in such settings as boys and girls clubs, community centers, youthful offender referral programs, churches, and women's shelters. Law enforcement plays a key role in preventing domestic violence and the education of young people should be a priority. 7 endnotes