Future Directions for Criminal Justice Policy on Domestic Violence (From Do Arrests and Restraining Orders Work? P 243-265, 1996, Eve S and Carl G Buzawa, eds. -- See NCJ-161517)

• NCJ Number: 161529
• Author(s): D A Ford; R Reichard; S Goldsmith; M J Regoli
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The coordination of criminal justice and social service interventions should be the guiding principle shaping criminal justice policies on domestic violence for the year 2000 and beyond.

Abstract

The future course of criminal justice policies on domestic violence can be projected by examining both historical trends and recent research findings. The criminal justice system's response to domestic violence has shifted over the past 200 years from a victim-initiated system of dispute resolution to a formal, government-sponsored system dominated by police and prosecutors intervening on behalf of victim-witnesses. In addition, recent policy changes relevant to domestic violence have been partially guided by research demonstrating the effectiveness of certain criminal justice practices in preventing domestic violence. The need for police officers, prosecutors, judges, and legislators to change attitudes toward wife battering is discussed. Domestic violence policies likely to gain widespread acceptance as standards for criminal justice practice beyond the year 2000 are described. 26 references and 16 notes