NCJ Number
93834
Date Published
1983
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This lesson plan for 'Responding to Spouse Abuse' presented at the Newark Police Department Police Academy (New Jersey) covers the nature and causes of spouse abuse, New Jersey's new Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, and the community resources currently available to help provide more permanent resolutions to domestic disturbance calls.
Abstract
In discussing the nature and causes of spouse abuse, the lesson plan portrays the typical batterer as a person who tries to control and dominate his spouse out of a fear that he may lose her. His physical violence is a learned response to stress, and the violence persists because he usually gets what he wants and is rarely punished. The woman endures the abuse because shs is usually economically and psycholgically dependent on her husband. The discussion of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act indicates that it requires city police to report to the State police all domestic disturbance calls. The responding police must also advise the victims of their rights, and the police are permitted to arrest batterers for simple assault without having been witnesses to it. Officers are afforded protection from civil litigation under this law when acting in good faith. The lesson plan informs officers that once they have stopped the violence and ensured the physical safety of all family members, they must determine if a crime has been committed. The use of arrest in spousal violence involving serious injury, use of a deadly weapon, or violation of a restraining order is proper. The instruction further emphasizes the use of referrals to other social agencies as a means of reducing the number of repeat calls and the likelihood of victim and officer injuries. A partial list of resources is included.