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Responding to Domestic Violence
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Responding to Domestic Violence
The Integration of Criminal Justice and Human Services

Fifth Edition


472 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

A fresh look at the response to domestic violence in the United States today.

 

This new edition of the bestselling Responding to Domestic Violence explores the response to domestic violence today, not only by the criminal justice system, but also by public and non-profit social service and health care agencies. After providing a brief theoretical overview of the causes of domestic violence and its prevalence in our society, the authors cover such key topics as barriers to intervention, variations in arrest practices, the role of state and federal legislation, and case prosecution. Focusing on both victims and offenders, the book includes unique chapters on models for judicial intervention, domestic violence and health, and children and domestic violence. In addition, this edition provides an in-depth discussion of the concept of coercive control in domestic violence and its importance in understanding victim needs. Finally, this volume includes international perspectives in order to broaden the reader's understanding of alternative responses to the problem of domestic violence.

 
CHAPTER 1. Introduction
Purpose and Overview

 
The Domestic Violence Revolution: Taking Stock

 
Is the Domestic Violence Revolution a Success?

 
The Challenges Before Us

 
Challenges to a Criminal Justice Approach

 
The Evolution of this Text

 
Organization of this Edition

 
 
PART I. What is Domestic Violence?
 
CHAPTER 2. Defining the Problem
The Nature and Extent of Domestic Violence

 
Controversies of Definitions

 
Domestic Violence Offenses

 
Who are the Victims

 
The Impact of Domestic Violence

 
Psychological and Quality of Life Effects on Victims

 
Monetary Costs

 
Domestic Violence in the Workplace

 
The Impact on Children and Adolescents

 
The Specialized Problem of Stalking in Relationships

 
 
CHAPTER 3. Matters of History, Faith, and Society
Historic Attitudes on Domestic Violence

 
The Continuing Importance of History

 
The Religious Basis for Abuse

 
The Social Critique Perspective on History and Religion

 
 
CHAPTER 4. Theoretical Explanations for Domestic Violence
The Complexity of Analyzing Intimate partner Abuse

 
Individual Focused Theories of Violence

 
Who is Most at Risk of Battering?

 
Biological and Psychological-Based Theories

 
Is Substance Abuse the Linkage Among Sociobiological, Psychological, and Sociological Theories

 
Are Certain Families Violent?

 
Is Domestic Violence an Intergenerational Problem?

 
Sociodemographic Correlates of Violence and Underserved Populations

 
Coercive Control

 
 
PART II: The Criminal Justice Response
 
CHAPTER 5. Selective Screening: Barriers to Intervention
Victim Case Screening

 
The Police Response

 
Prosecutorial Screening Prior to Adjudication

 
Prosecutorial Autonomy

 
Case Attrition by Victims: Self-Doubts and the Complexity of Motivation

 
A Judicial Annoyance: Handling Battling Families

 
The Decision to Access Victim Services

 
 
CHAPTER 6. The Impetus for Change
Political Pressure

 
The Role of Research in Promoting Change

 
The Evolution of Research Supporting the Primacy of Arrest

 
The Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment

 
The Replication Studies

 
Legal Liability as an Agent for Change

 
 
CHAPTER 7. Policing Domestic Violence
How Do Police Decide Whether to Review

 
Key Situational and Incident Characteristics

 
Victim Specific Variables in the Decision to Arrest

 
Offender Specific Variables in the Decision to Arrest

 
Variations Within Police Departments

 
Community Characteristics

 
The Controversy over Mandatory Arrest

 
Arrests and Minority Populations: A Special Case?

 
The Role of Victim Satisfaction in Reporting Re-Victimization

 
The Increase in Dual Arrests

 
Is a Uniform Arrest Policy Justified in the Context of Victim Needs?

 
The Limitations of Police Arrests in Response to Stalking

 
 
CHAPTER 8. Prosecuting Domestic Violence
The Varied Reasons for Case Attrition

 
The Changing Prosecutorial Response

 
Victims Charged With Child Endangerment

 
The Likelihood of Conviction

 
Are there Effective Alternatives to Mandatory Prosecution?

 
 
CHAPTER 9. The Role of Restraining Orders
The Role of Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

 
The Process of Obtaining Protective Orders

 
The Explosive Growth of Restraining Orders

 
The Early Use of Restraining Orders: The Massachusetts Experience

 
Potential Advantages of Protective Orders

 
Why Protective Orders are Not Always Granted

 
The Limitations of Protective Orders

 
The Complex Problem of Restraining Order Violation

 
Is There a “Best Practice” for Obtaining and Enforcing Restraining Orders?

 
 
CHAPTER 10. The Judicial Response
The Process of Measuring Judicial Change

 
The Impact of Judicial Activism: Analysis of a Case Study

 
Case Disposition at Trial: Variability in Judicial Sentencing Patterns

 
Sentencing Patterns for Domestic Compared With Non–Domestic Violence Offenders

 
Domestic Violence Courts: The Focus on Victim Needs and Offender Accountability

 
The Variety of Domestic Violence Courts

 
Innovations in New York State

 
 
PART III. The Societal Response
 
CHAPTER 11. Mandated Institutional Change
State Domestic Violence Related Laws

 
Statutes and Policies Mandating or Preferring Arrest

 
State Antistalking and Cyber Stalking Statutes

 
The Federal Legislative Response

 
The Affordable Care Act

 
Future Legislation

 
International Legal Reform and Human Rights

 
The Context for a Broader Response to Woman Abuse

 
Do Organizational Policies Mediate the Impact of Mandatory and Presumptive Arrest Statutes?

 
 
CHAPTER 12. Community Based and Court Sponsored Diversions
Restorative Justice Approaches

 
Domestic Violence Mediation Programs

 
Family Group Conferencing and Peacemaking Circles

 
Peacemaking Circles

 
Batterer Intervention Programs

 
 
CHAPTER 13. Domestic Violence, Health, and the Health System Response
The Role of Health Services

 
The Need for and Use of Health Services by Battered Women

 
The Markers of Partner Violence in the Health System

 
The Sexual Nature of Partner Violence and Abuse

 
The Secondary Consequences of Abuse

 
Explaining the Secondary Health Problems Associated with Partner Abuse

 
Populations at Special Risk

 
Defining Woman Battering in the Health Setting

 
Measuring Partner Abuse: Prevalence and Incidence

 
Medical Neglect

 
Reforming the Health System

 
The Major Challenges Ahead

 
 
CHAPTER 14. Domestic Violence, Children, and the Institutional Response
Domestic Violence and Children’s Well-Being

 
Indirect Effects of Exposure to Domestic Violence on Children

 
The Limits of the Research and Future Direction

 
The Child Welfare System

 
The Family Court Response

 
 
CHAPTER 15. Conclusion: Towards the Prevention of Domestic Violence: Challenges and Opportunities
Our Many Successes

 
The Problem of High Risk Offenders

 
The Use of Risk Assessment Tools

 
What are the Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH)

 
Using Risk Assessments to Target High Risk Offenders

 
Are Several Risk Profiles Needed?

 
Implementing Risk Reduction Strategies

 

Supplements

Instructors Resource Site
Calling all instructors! It’s easy to log on to SAGE’s password-protected Instructor Teaching Site for complete and protected access to all text-specific Instructor Resources. Simply provide your institutional information for verification and within 72 hours you’ll be able to use your login information for any SAGE title! Then, you pick and choose from this list, depending on what each site offers.

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:
  • A Microsoft® Word® test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.
  • A Respondus electronic test bank is available and can be used on PCs. The test bank contains multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter and provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding. Respondus is also compatible with many popular learning management systems so you can easily get your test questions into your online courses.
  • Editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. Highlight essential content and features.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide student interpretation. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.
Student Study Site
The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide your interpretation.

The best text on domestic violence I have found from the criminal justice perspective.

Rebecca Alvarez
Social and Behavioral Sciences, New Mexico Highlands University
June 22, 2021

I was extremely surprised that it did not cover safety planning. The term wasn't even in the index. Great resource but not for future practitioners. Could be used as a supplement.

Professor Kiva T Harper
Social Work , University Of Texas-Arlington
August 10, 2016

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 13


Eve S. Buzawa

Eve Buzawa, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita in the School of Criminology & Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She served as Chair of the School from 1995 – 2013, and Director of the School from September, 2013-June, 2016 when she retired. Dr. Buzawa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and her Master's and Doctoral degrees from the School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University. Dr. Buzawa has authored and edited numerous books, journal articles, and monographs in the field of domestic violence.  She has also served as a Principal Investigator on several federally funded... More About Author

Carl G. Buzawa

Carl G. Buzawa is an attorney in private practice. Currently, he is Senior Vice President—Contracts, Legal, and Compliance at Textron Systems. He received his BA from the University of Rochester, his MA from the University of Michigan, and his JD from Harvard Law School. With Eve S. Buzawa, he is the coauthor of numerous books and articles on the topic of domestic violence. More About Author

Evan D. Stark

Evan Stark is a sociologist, forensic social worker and award-winning researcher with an international reputation for his innovative work on the legal, policy and health dimensions of interpersonal violence, including its effects on children. Dr. Stark’s award-winning book, Coercive Control: The Entrapment of Women in Personal Life (Oxford, 2007), was named the outstanding social science book published in 2007 by the Association of American Publishers and influenced the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe to expand their definitions of domestic violence to include coercive control.  With a Ph.D......University, he is... More About Author