NCJ Number
110601
Date Published
1986
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Family violence is discussed in terms of its nature and extent in the United States and the nature of the legal and ethical issues it poses for mental health professionals.
Abstract
Family violence includes both spouse abuse and child abuse. It affects large segments of the population and has serious consequences for all members of the violent household and for society in general. Strong evidence exists for the intergenerational transmission of violence, suggesting that family violence is self-perpetuating. Mental health professionals are in an ideal position to intervene in violent families, but they have paid serious attention to these phenomena only recently. Every State currently has mandatory reporting laws relating to child abuse. However, these laws have been questioned in terms of whether reporting truly serves the best interests of the child. Lack of staffing for child-protective agencies and the questionable value of the available remedies are the source of this concern. In addition, mandatory reporting laws pose ethical conflicts for many professionals, particularly with regard to the issue of confidentiality. Thus, many professionals are reluctant to comply with the law. Marital violence is not the subject of reporting laws, but professionals have ethical responsibilities in these cases as well, particularly if the violence cannot be controlled. Therapists should be aware of the risk factors for family violence, should assess for it, and should use appropriate treatment strategies. 84 references.