The Second Closet: Domestic Violence in Lesbian and Gay Relationships - A Western Australian Perspective (1996) NEWER!
This article by Lee Vickers focuses on the little discussed problem of domestic violence in same sex relationships, and the silence surrounding this issue. The recent Western Australian case of McEwan is addressed, in which the defendant, charged with murdering his partner, successfully relied on the "battered wife (spouse) syndrome".
Between a Rock and a Hard Place (1996) NEWER! Linda Jurevic, the author, reports on case studies of claims made under Western Australia's criminal injuries compensation legislation by women victims of domestic violence. She examines the statutory restrictions on claims in relation to contributory conduct and other matters and concludes that the legislation contains inappropriate and inconsistent standards which serve to deny women victims of domestic violence due compensation for crimes committed against them.
Violence and Family Law (Australia, 1994)
This report examines the treatment of violence against women in family law. It discusses how the 'no fault' philosophy has permeated the jurisprudence of the Family Court and prevented relevant issues from being raised. It proposes a series of amendments to the Act and some changes to procedures and practices within the court system. It also recommends that the National Women's Justice Program take up some issues arising under State law.
Training in the area of Violence Against Women (Australia, 1993)
The National Committee on Violence Against Women (NCVAW) has examined a range of policy and program issues for the training of service providers in area of violence against women.Although there have been initiatives in some undergraduate courses and in-service programs, training and education in relation to all forms of violence against women is under-developed. Courses are not routinely offered in undergraduate training for key occupational groups. Thousands of students graduate each year with little or no knowledge or practice skills, but are required to work in an area characterised by its complexity and potential lethality. When personnel assist women who are subjected to violence without having had the opportunity to develop skills and expertise, their intervention may leave women unsafe. Although this picture is slowly changing, the magnitude of the problem calls for a significant education process so that women who seek help consistently receive a sensitive, skilled response from whichever profession they approach.
Train the Trainer Programs in Australia (1992) NEW!
For improving the response of service providers working in the area of violence against women. The following report has examined the training policies and programs for service providers in two areas: domestic violence and sexual assault. In Australia, domestic violence policies and programs have developed quite differently from sexual assault services. In most States and Territories, centralised domestic violence policy/resource units undertake extensive developmental work on legislative change, policy, the establishment of services, professional training and community education. However, domestic violence and sexual assault training and education remains under-developed in Australia. Each year, thousands of university and college students graduate from health, welfare and legal courses with minimal knowledge of domestic violence and sexual assault. The provision of in-service training for service providers is ad hoc and infrequent in both government and non-government sectors. Opportunities for specialist and advanced level training are rare.
Domestic Violence Report - Community Law Reform Committee (Australia, 1991)
The Committee has dealt with its Reference on domestic violence by dividing its task into two distinct areas. The first deals with reform of the criminal justice system and the agencies dealing with domestic violence in that system, and is the subject of Part I of this Report. The second is a review of the civil system for securing protection from violence or harassment and is dealt with in Part II of this Report, which is forthcoming.
Canada - Domestic Violence and the Courts (1995)
The purpose of this project is to ascertain the views and experiences, and assess (1) the legal information needs of immigrant and visible minority women who have been victims of violence against women in relationships, and (2) the training needs of the immigrant and ethno-cultural service providers who must identify, support and refer such victims.
Canada - Family Violence in Rural, Farm and Remote Canada (1995)
The researchers' focus is to identify the victims of family violence, state the acts of family violence, and record the current methods of dealing with family violence in order to define family violence in rural and farm communities. The conclusions based on the input of grassroots farm women's organizations in Canada will result in recommendations that could address and remedy the problem of family violence in rural communities and on family farms.
New Zealand - What's Love Got To Do With It
The Hamilton Abuse Intervention Pilot Project (HAIPP), launched in July 1991, represents an attempt to reform the justice system's response to domestic violence, particularly the violence of men directed against their women partners. In this article, they outline the philosophy of intervention, describe the intervention protocols which have been developed in Hamilton, analyse the operation and assess some of the impacts the intervention approach has had on the administration of justice.
Nova Scotia - From Rhetoric to Reality: Ending Domestic Violence (1995)
The common theme that surfaces is a failure to comprehend and respond to domestic violence as a life-threatening situation which should be accorded the highest priority in terms of response and protection. It would not be an understatement to say that for many women, the experience of existing with a violent spouse is akin to living with a time bomb. The fact that many women experience violence after they no longer live with the spouse or even if they never resided with the person highlights the terrifying situation facing women. The failure on the part of the entire legal system to appreciate this fact and respond accordingly is the central problem.
U.S.A. - Domestic Violence in Child Welfare Preventative Services (1997) NEW!
This paper describes the results from a domestic violence screening questionnaire implemented in neighborhood-based child welfare agencies. The goal of these preventive service agencies is to avert the unnecessary placement of children into foster care as well as preventing child maltreatment. Components of the project described in this paper included recruitment of participant agencies; training of the workers in domestic violence identification; and the use of a new screening questionnaire during intake interviews with women clients over a twelve month period. Findings included the fact that training enhanced identification; women appreciated being asked about current and historical abuse; and that women felt better able to protect themselves and their children after disclosure of domestic violence to the worker.
U.S.A. - The Criminalization of Domestic Violence: Promises and Limits (1996) NEW!
During the past 30 years, the criminalization of domestic violence has developed along three parallel but generally separate tracks: criminal punishment and deterrence of batterers, batterer treatment, and restraining orders designed to
protect victims through the threat of civil or criminal legal sanctions. Each of these policy tracks has been informed, advanced, and supported by advocacy groups for battered women. Victim advocacy groups have worked vigorously for legislative and policy change, monitored and corrected the implementation of law and policy, and intensively supported expanded resources for victim services. Several jurisdictions have attempted to integrate these policies in systemwide approaches within the justice system.
U.S.A. - The Cycle of Violence Revisited (1996) NEW!
What happens to abused and neglected children after they grow up? Do the victims of violence and neglect later become criminals or violent offenders themselves?
U.S.A. - Validity and Use of Evidence Concerning Battering and Its Effects in Criminal Trials (1996) NEW!
The passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-322, Title IV) signalled a significant change in our nation's efforts to control and prevent crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Act offers direction for a new collaborative approach between law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and the judiciary, and the medical and health community, social service agencies, community leaders, and the private sector. It also offers a
substantial commitment of federal resources to help the criminal justice system and the communities of our country build an integrated system to respond to these crimes and to their victims.
U.S.A. - A Coordinated Approach to Reducing Family Violence: Conference Highlights (1995) NEW!
In the early 1960's, C. Henry Kempe, M.D., drew national attention to the problem of child abuse as a common cause of injury and death, and he emphasized the need for physicians to diagnose such injuries so that children at risk could be identified and protected from further mistreatment. By the 1970's, women's advocates had raised public concern about the problem of domestic violence, provided more shelters for battered women, and increased the number and scope of legal services available to them. During the late 1970's and early 1980's, reports of elder abuse and neglect became widespread. The statistics documenting this epidemic of family violence in the United States reveal an annual incidence of abuse by family
members that is conservatively estimated at 2-4 million for children, nearly 4 million for women, and 1-2 million for older adults.
Do Batterers' Programs Work? (1995) NEWER!
This paper by Jeffrey L. Edleson examines the complexities of any attempt to answer the question: Do batterers' programs work? It starts by examining the term "works" and the various meanings people attach to this term when evaluating batterers' programs. It then looks at the published outcome data on batterers' programs and examines their results through the various lenses of the public debate on treatment effectiveness. The article concludes with suggested policy and program directions for the future of intervention with men who batter.
U.S.A. - Evaluation of a Protocol to Identify Battered Women During Investigations of Child Abuse (1995) NEW!
The recognition of child abuse as a modern social problem occurred in the 1960's, while the acknowledgement of the problem of woman abuse emerged in the 1970's. For the most part social activists, social scientists, and social workers have focused on either the problem of child abuse or the problem of woman abuse. Very few efforts have centered on the coexistence of these two problems.
U.S.A. - Evaluation of Family Violence Training Programs (1995) NEW!
From 1986 to 1992, 23 law enforcement training projects throughout the country received funding through the Office for Victims of Crime to train 16,000 police officers, other justice system staff (such as prosecutors and judges), and community service providers to improve responsiveness to victims of family violence. An NIJ-sponsored study found that the training programs appeared to have brought more uniform and progressive domestic violence policies in participating jurisdictions,
improved training participants' attitudes and services to victims, and enhanced working relationships among agencies. However, the study also found that additional efforts will be needed to sustain and expand the effects of this training project.
U.S.A. - Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence (1994)
The Model State Code on Domestic and Family Violence will help protect victims in a fair, prompt and comprehensive fashion.
It will help prevent future violence in every family where such violence has been discovered. This Code sets forth procedures for comprehensive civil protection orders consistent with due process. This Code treats domestic and family violence as a crime which requires early, aggressive and thorough intervention. Where the custody of a child is an issue, the Code assures that the child's safety and well-being is of paramount concern. Finally it sets forth ways that each community can coordinate efforts to identify, protect, treat and intervene when domestic or family violence occurs.
Page designed and maintained by W.I.S.E. - Women's Issues and Social Empowerment The reproduction of the HTM and/or any graphics contained on this page is strictly prohibited!
Copyright (c) W.I.S.E. - Women's Issues and Social Empowerment, 1998.
Updated: Thursday, 29 January 1998
