Prosecuting Domestic Violence: A Review of Current Policy, Research, and Practice Initiatives

Download or read book Prosecuting Domestic Violence: A Review of Current Policy, Research, and Practice Initiatives written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper describes current innovations developed or used by prosecutors as applied specifically towards domestic violence. Both the increasing demand for a more effective criminal justice system response to domestic violence and the changing role of the prosecutor have fostered the development and implementation of many innovative strategies for dealing with the unique issues and problems related to domestic violence. After discussing the history of domestic violence prosecution and its influence on the changing role of the prosecutor, the paper reviews four general types of initiatives currently employed by prosecutors specific to domestic violence cases. Each is described in terms of its prevalence, advantages, limitations, and relative success. General limitations and constraints inherent to domestic violence, prosecution, and policy evaluation are also discussed. Finally, policy recommendations relative to current research and practice are presented. Given the lack of conclusive research and the variability among jurisdictions, prosecutors must often rely on their own evaluations in measuring the effectiveness of their programs. While most innovations are tested largely only through direct implementation, continued research is certainly warranted, and should be undertaken in conjunction with the most promising practices.