NCJ Number
162752
Journal
Urban Institute Policy and Research Report Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1995-96) Pages: 1-3
Editor(s)
S Brown
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The criminal justice system has greatly expanded its efforts to recognize the seriousness of domestic assault and develop effective intervention strategies, including increased law enforcement training, greater use of restraining orders, more mediation, and batterer treatment programs.
Abstract
Federal grants have funded 23 training projects attended by more than 16,000 people. An analysis of six programs revealed that the crucial factor in success was the collaborative involvement of law enforcement, policymakers, trainers, managers, judges, social service workers, victims' advocates, and prosecutors. A study of restraining orders in two Colorado cities indicated that the court system may need to put additional effort into tailoring restraining orders to the special circumstances of victims, improving the service process, enforcing violations, and identifying violations. A study of mediation in Portland and Minneapolis indicated that domestic assault victims feel less empowered with respect to their partners than do nonabused women and men and that these victims should have the option of avoiding face-to-face contact with their abusers. A study of batterer treatment in Baltimore County (Md.) indicated that ordering offenders to treatment might not protect victims adequately and that batterers need to face sanctions for the crimes they have committed. Overall, findings indicate that some beneficial changes have occurred and that all parts of the criminal justice system need to reinforce each other's actions. Photographs and list of 4 readings