Addressing a significant void in the extant literature on the topic of domestic violence, Rural Woman Battering and the Justice System presents a thorough and arresting look at the experiences of battered women in rural communities. While living in the rural areas of Kentucky, Neil Websdale conducted his ethnographic research, and he situated the voices of rural battered women at the center of his ethnography. He clearly demonstrates how rural patriarchy and the insidious "good ol? boy network" of law enforcement and local politics sustain and reproduce the subordinate, vulnerable, isolated position of many rural women. Taking into account that traditional patterns of intervention can often put women in isolated communities at further risk, the author recommends a coordinated multiagency approach to rural battering that is spearheaded by state feminist agencies. The chapter on the difficulties of an educated male researcher working with rural battered women offers a definite methodological plus. Illuminating and accessible, Rural Woman Battering and the Justice System makes a most important and timely contribution to the field.

An excellent training resource for anyone working with battered women, especially in rural areas, Rural Woman Battering and the Justice System is highly recommended for law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, practitioners, advocates, shelter personnel, and advanced students in related courses of study, as well as academics and researchers.

A hefty 500-page anthology of more than 30 academic articles examining sexual and domestic violence in the context of the Christion scriptures, tradition and teaching...[the [ anthology is for readers willing to encounter some controversial approaches on the way to a deeper understanding of a complex subject. -Publishers Weekly

Featuring cutting-edge information from the international arena, Out of the Darkness pulls together into one seminal volume the work of emerging scholars and key figures in the field. Edited by Glenda Kaufman Kantor and Jana Jasinski, this book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary package of the newest generation of investigation and theory. Professionals and researchers in child welfare, mental health, and criminal justice fields will want to read this book to keep up with the latest controversial topics; international studies; theory, methods, assessment, and interventions; and ethical and cultural issues related to both child and partner abuse. Chapters address pressing questions such as: Is wife abuse declining? Are child homicides increasing? Does couple treatment work in violent marriages? From this volume several noteworthy findings emerge, including the wide variations in the forms, types, and consequences of abuse; the need for support and change in both victim and batterer behaviors; the overdue move toward expertise and sensitivity when dealing with affected populations; and much more. Out of the Darkness makes a contribution to the field on a par with other classics. It is a must read for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, activists, and policymakers concerned with any or all aspects of family violence.

Reducing the odds of further victimization by a convicted child molester requires a clear understanding of the offender's process and his or her ability to manipulate victims. With more than 25 years of experience in the field working with every type of child molester, Eric Leberg provides the information vital to recognizing the offender's patterns of deception and - just as important - how to respond with appropriate interventions or preventive measures. A basic yet comprehensive overview that is easy to read, Understanding Child Molesters uses cases and anecdotes to highlight and reinforce important issues and concepts. A valuable resource for those who deal with offenders regularly - including nonoffending parents, other family members, employers and professionals and students who will work in the field - this book covers:

· information on the sex offender evaluation report, pre-sentence investigation report, and criminal history records

· legal and ethical means of obtaining information on the offender

· how the criminal justice system works and how it affects offenders

· suggestions on how to utilize the criminal justice system as a resource in preventing revictimization and/or reestablishing new relationships with convicted sex offenders.

Understanding Child Molesters will answer many of the general public?s pressing questions about the sex offenders that can threaten their children?s well-being. Professionals, practitioners, and students new to the field of child abuse - a multidisciplinary mix including those from mental health, corrections, law and law enforcement - will also find the book an invaluable introduction to current issues surrounding sex offenders and victimization. 

Of all women battered by their intimate partners each year, only a small percentage are correctly diagnosed as victims of abuse. The medical community has a unique opportunity to intervene, but many health care professionals need more training to recognize the abuse, tools to intervene, and information on where to refer victims for additional assistance. Comprehensive yet easy to delve into, Domestic Violence and Health Care helps practitioners treat those seeking help after a violent episode. Author Sherri L. Schornstein, a career prosecutor experienced both on the front lines and at the systems level in Washington, DC, dispels common myths about domestic violence and skillfully takes the reader through practical, how-to steps in the examination process. Examples and insights provide vital information regarding the impact that examination and documentation may have upon a subsequent prosecution of the batterer, while sample questions and forms assist the examiner in recording the most accurate information possible. This essential volume also explores safety issues for everyone at a health care facility who deals with such cases. Domestic Violence and Health Care alerts health care professionals to the signs of abuse and helps prepare them to deal sensitively and appropriately with the needs of victims. This timely book is recommended for all medical personnel as well as professionals and practitioners in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, victim advocacy, criminal justice, hospital administration, public health, and law enforcement. As a text, Domestic Violence and Health Care works as an excellent supplement for courses in medicine, nursing, social work, and for CME/CE credit workshops.

Praise for the Second Edition: "A must read for anyone working in the broad field of mental health. It is a most comprehensive, scholarly, and up-to-date presentation of the issues involved in this difficult but increasingly important field. The author's . . . scholarly comments enable the reader to come to a clear, definitive opinion about the real facts in this emotion-laden area. . . . Well written and quite readable." --Nathan B. Epstein, M.D., Psychiatrist-in-Chief, St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford, Massachusetts "Serves as an excellent guide to introduce the reader to the broad range of family problems associated with family violence. It does a good job of showing how devastating and tragic family violence really is, as well as showing the emotional and physical trauma suffered by the victims." --Family Violence Bulletin Winner of the American Journal of Nursing 1990 Book of the Year Award in its second edition, Intimate Violence in Families has been thoroughly revised and updated in its third edition. Drawing on the latest research, this book dismantles many of the conventional myths hindering our understanding of family violence. Through an exploration of some of the major controversies in the field, Richard Gelles discusses various theories of intimate violence and the contributing social factors. This third edition includes a substantial expansion of material on hidden victims of familial violence-siblings, parents, and the elderly-as well as an examination of violence between gay and lesbian couples. While the first two editions of Intimate Violence in Families focused on physical abuse, here Gelles also explores neglect and emotional and psychological abuse, offering a much broader look at the full spectrum of familial abuse. Breaking important new ground, Gelles carefull examines what we know about intervention and treatment program effectiveness, with special attention to intensive family preservation programs and men's treatment programs. A major text for use in coursework on interpersonal violence, family violence, psychology, counseling, social work, and special issues in gender studies and sociology, Intimate Violence in Families, Third Edition will also provide essential information to professionals working in those areas.

The innovative character of the battered women's movement is evident in countries around the world. Providing an integrated and balanced view of the many facets of this international problem, Future Interventions with Battered Women and Their Families critically examines the progress made and assesses the strategies for the future. This much-needed volume addresses the surge of efforts in the battered women's movement while challenging the reader to reflect, assimilate, and take action. An outstanding group of experts from around the globe studies important features of the movement, including --the way in which different societies define the problem --global organizing efforts to end violence against women --innovative strategies to organize informal social networks --new interventions to assist victims/survivors, perpetrators, and their children --practice research that informs intervention Future Interventions with Battered Women and Their Families provides diverse perspectives and directions for the movement that will influence a wide range of professionals serving battered women and their families, including medical and mental health professionals, battered women's advocates, legal and law enforcement professionals, policymakers, and students in social work, psychology, counseling psychology, and women's studies.

Although an anecdotal association between communication and family violence was noted early in the family violence literature, a communication approach to family violence has been underrepresented in the literature. This book is a welcome contribution to the literature because it demonstrates that the connection between communication and family violence is much more complex than a skills deficit of one or more members of a violent relationship. --Gail Whitchurch, Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University Adding an innovative perspective to traditional psychological and sociological approaches, Family Violence from a Communication Perspective lays out a new theoretical framework for understanding and resolving abusive family interactions. This exceptional volume features contributions from a variety of disciplines that examine the interactional processes at the core of domestic abuse, aggression, and violence. The contributors explore the development of violence in the family, beginning with courtship violence, proceeding through marital violence, and perpetuated through parent-child violence. Providing keen insight, the chapters examine the commonalities and differences inherent in emotional, psychological, verbal, and sexual abuse and how they all stem from basic communication problems. An essential resource for students and scholars in communication, family studies, relationship studies, psychology, sociology, and women's studies, Family Violence from a Communication Perspective also offers a refreshing viewpoint for professionals in the human services.

I found this book to be penetrating, easy to read, and very thought provoking. . . . It really is an excellent treatment of a sensitive subject. I highly recommend it. --Nicolette Jackson, Re-Entry Center of Orange County Community College, Costa Mesa, California "Mollie Whalen's book Counseling to End Violence Against Women is subversive in the best sense of the word. She has tackled head-on the challenge of a social action approach to working with abused women. The book is provocative, challenging the reader to pursue fundamental social change in the practice of counseling victims of domestic violence." --Ruth A. Brandwein, The University of Utah "After years of heavy psychologizing discourse, a book has finally come along that places initiation into the women's movement at the core of counseling violated women. Mollie Whalen cuts through professionalization and brings the political back into the process of counseling women. A wonderfully subversive work." --Bonnie Burstow, Private Practice, Toronto Feminist theory has viewed violence against women as a result of a male-dominated society, but traditional counseling models for battered women have largely failed to encourage social change as a solution to this disturbing epidemic. Offering challenging arguments on the power of the counseling relationship to initiate change, Counseling to End Violence Against Women unites feminist and radical feminist theory and counseling practice to promote women's liberation from violence and sexual oppression. In her comprehensive model, author Mollie Whalen examines the historical roles of the women's movement and the battered women's movement in relation to the development of a politically subversive approach to counseling. Whalen's model focuses not only on empowering individual women but on seizing the collective power of women to end their victimization. Grounded in theory, this practical model also addresses professional issues that confront counselors in their work with battered women. In Counseling to End Violence Against Women, Whalen reconstructs the role of counseling with victimized women and promotes a valuable model for use in treatment and training. Counselors and counseling students will find her perspective challenging and invaluable.

Since empirical research on domestic violence began in the 1970s, it has become clear that without intervention, significant percentages of domestic violence cases escalate into more serious incidents. However, with the exception of cases resulting in homicides, there are no reliable criminal justice statistics that document the rates of serious domestic violence incidents. What, then, are the most effective means--in terms of safety and cost--of protecting victims? Featuring writings from noted contributors, Do Arrests and Restraining Orders Work? grapples with the markedly different results of research and analyses on the effectiveness of arrests and restraining orders. This probing volume examines the proper role of arrest and the degree to which the criminal justice system can rely on restraining orders to prevent domestic and other kinds of violence. Representing a wide array of research methods, the chapters include a variety of perspectives, including those from police, prosecutors, the judiciary, and probation officers. Timely and provocative, Do Arrests and Restraining Orders Work? asks the challenging questions that will help the criminal justice system move toward effective solutions. This volume is an excellent resource for students as well as researchers and academics in criminology and for a wide array of criminal justice professionals, including police management personnel, attorneys, and policymakers.

"Canadian and American contributors to this book describe a wide range of programs offered to deal with the direct and indirect victims of men who batter. These include individual treatment options for children who witness the violence, parenting programs for men who batter, and prevention programs targeting high school students. For those involved in providing family services, the book is guaranteed to be both informative and thought-provoking." --John Hunsley in The Canadian Family Psychologist "There is a great deal to reflect upon in every section of the book. The chapters on assessment of children exposed to family violence, and on providing individual and group therapy for children of abused women, take up some very important issues. . . . This book is to be highly commended for its unequivocal espousal of the tenet that a child who witnesses the abuse of his or her mother is an abused child." --Chris Goddard in Child Abuse Review "This is an invaluable collection of papers that both raises awareness regarding the growing body of research that indicates the negative psychological effects domestic violence has on children even if they themselves are not the target of the violence, as well as offering practical suggestions for clinicians. It is a useful resource book for anyone working with the issue of family violence." --G. Smith in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Although there is a growing body of research on children of battered women, there has been little practical information available on intervention with these children. Ending the Cycle of Violence is the first volume to cover the varied and complex arena of intervention with children of battered women. It provides an overview of current practices including strategies and program models. The expert contributors present a concise and accessible look into four major areas: living in a violent culture, shelters and domestic violence counseling, child protection services and the criminal justice system, and prevention and education in schools and communities. Practitioners who work with battered women and their children--shelter and domestic violence program staff, battered women's advocates, and counselors--will find this book most useful. It will also be helpful to all professionals working with children in schools, child protective services, youth programs, health and mental health agencies, institutions, group homes, and foster care settings. Ending the Cycle of Violence also provides and overview of innovations in this field that can enhance policymakers' ability to further develop services for this at-risk population.

An increase in the legal response to wife assault is evident in North America, largely in reaction to earlier calls for greater responsiveness by the legal system. However--not one change has occurred without controversy. Legal Responses to Wife Assault offers in-depth coverage of four major themes: historical framework of legal response to wife assault; police attitudes and action (or inaction); prosecution, mediation, and treatment within the court system; and victims as defendants and participants in the legal system. Chapters examine past and present policies of specific branches of the legal system, discuss the merits and demerits of those approaches, and explore implications for the future. The authors not only pull together recent evaluation research in an accessible form, but they highlight their own work as well. Human services and legal professionals, as well as students and researchers in these areas, will find the book invaluable.

This book offers a critical overview of established and emerging manifestations of domestic violence across Europe. It describes how countries within and outside the EU are responding to the problem in policy, practice and research. Eminent academics and professionals from a range of European countries share their findings from new groundbreaking victim surveys, and weigh up the legal, social and healthcare challenges. The issues addressed include: - the cultural challenges of combating abuse forms most prevalent in migrant communities such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage; - emerging problems such as child-to-parent violence, teenage relationship violence and digital intimate partner abuse; and - barriers to help-seeking faced by marginalised victims such as LGBTQ and older people. By showcasing the most effective responses formulated in Europe and exploring innovative ways to research and understand domestic violence, this book is a crucial resource for all those with responsibility for implementing social policy and good practice.

'He pushed open the door, and I saw that he was pulling something out of a bag he was carrying. It was a gun - a sawn-off shotgun.' Featured on ITV's Lorraine with Michael Sheen and Rachel Williams. Darren was funny and attractive, and 21-year-old Rachel fell head-over-heels for him; it wasn't long before they moved in together, and she fell pregnant with his child. But his inner demons soon surfaced... Weakened and alone, Rachel was beaten and tormented by him for 18 years, until one day, Darren turned up at her place of work with a shotgun and left her for dead. But her ordeal wasn't over... Devastating yet inspiring, Rachel's story of hope tells of how you can always find the light, even in the very darkest of times. 'Incredibly poignant and powerful.' - Victoria Derbyshire 'Transformative. Life changing.' - Michael Sheen

Raised near New Orleans as one of six children, Dorothy Newton was surrounded by abuse and poverty as she grew up. But she became the first in her family to graduate from college and moved out of poverty. She then began to live out her dreams in Dallas of a better home and life when she married celebrity superstar football player Nate Newton. She had gone from poverty to the pinnacle of success. She was married to a handsome, successful, famous professional athlete, who was a three time Super Bowl Champion and six time Pro-Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys. But all that glittered was not gold. Before long the relationship turned abusive. She found herself living in the world she thought she had escaped in her years growing up. The world did not see her suffering behind closed doors-she was betrayed, treated abusively, threatened continually. Dorothy was trapped with no one to talk to and nowhere to run. In this book Dorothy shares her experiences of pain, loss, survival, hope, recovery, and victory. A gripping story throughout, A Silent Cry is a testament to Dorothy's will to live and the peace that comes with hope in the God who sees and hears your tears-even when no one else does.

In this volume, the authors present an overview of the innovative work taking place in relation to domestic violence and child protection. This book looks at new prevention initiatives and how interventions for children exposed to domestic violence have been developed. It shows how services for abusive fathers have evolved and provides discussion and critique of a number of new initiatives in the field of interagency risk assessment. With international perspectives and examples drawn from social care, health care and voluntary sectors, this book brings together established ideas with recent thinking to provide an authoritative summary of current domestic violence and child protection practice. As a valuable source of guidance on how to work safely with children living with domestic violence, this is a key reference for social workers, health professionals and policy makers.

Domestic violence is encountered by disabled women more frequently than non-disabled women, yet disabled women are less likely to receive appropriate services, and there has been little research on their experiences and how this problem can be addressed. This book, drawing on the first UK national study of disabled women who have suffered domestic violence, highlights the experiences of these women, the nature of the violence perpetrated against them, and the seriousness and range of its impacts. The book draws attention to the gaps in services for disabled women and discusses how professional responses should be developed and improved, pointing to current examples of good practice. It includes first-hand accounts from disabled women and includes contributions from leading disabled women activists. This book will be important reading for students, practitioners, policymakers and academics in the fields of disability and domestic violence.

Domestic violence experienced in childhood continues to have an enduring emotional impact into adulthood. The scars it leaves can impact on family lives, employment, and long-term emotional and mental health. This book explores the experiences of adult survivors of domestic violence in childhood. The authors draw on many years' experience at the forefront of the field to bring together current research, best practice guidance for those working with both adults and children, personal testimonies and creative writing from survivors. The book addresses how to work with children exposed to domestic violence to address the issues before they grow up, as well as guidance on working with adult survivors. The personal accounts and poems make real the research and practice guidance. This important book will be essential reading for all those working with survivors of domestic violence in childhood, including counsellors, social workers and therapists, as well as students, academics and policy makers.

Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence Victims uses a rich and detailed set of interviews and complementary survey data to make a strong case for introducing restorative justice principles into the existing menu of services for victims of domestic violence. Guided primarily by concerns of victim safety, domestic violence theorists and practitioners have been wary of introducing restorative justice principled programs in the domestic violence arena. While remaining cognizant of safety concerns, Marilyn Fernandez weaves together the theories, concepts, and research in the restorative justice and domestic violence traditions and uses the voices of domestic violence victims to make a case for restorative justice programs. In the process, Fernandez helps readers, academicians, students, and practitioners, understand the complex nature of domestic violence and the lives of its victims.

This book draws on interviews carried out over a period of eight years, as well as novels, films, and domestic violence literature, to explain the role of storytelling in the history of the battered women s movement. The author shows how cultural contexts shape how stories about domestic abuse get told, and offers critical tools for bringing psychology into discussions of group dynamics in the domestic violence field.

The book enlists psychoanalytic-feminist theory to analyse storytelling practices and to re-visit four areas of tension in the movement where signs of battle fatigue have been most acute. These areas include the conflicts that emerge between the battered women s movement and the state, the complex relationship between domestic violence and other social problems, and the question of whether woman battering is a special case that differs from other forms of social violence. The volume also looks at the tensions between groups of women within the movement, and how to address differences based on race, class or other dimensions of power. Finally, the book explores the contentious issue of how to acknowledge forms of female aggression while still preserving a gender analysis of intimate partner violence.

In attending to narrative dynamics in the history of domestic violence work, Hard Knocks presents a radical re-reading of the contribution of psychology to feminist interventions and activism. The book is ideal reading for scholars, activists, advocates and policy planners involved in domestic violence, and is suitable for students of psychology, social work, sociology and criminology.

Rebuilding Lives after Domestic Violence examines in-depth the long-term outcomes for women who have suffered domestic violence and abuse, based on interviews conducted over seven years. Through these interviews the author reveals the factors which help or hinder a successful transition from abusive relationship to independent living. The women interviewed provide an insight into the lengthy and difficult process of rebuilding their lives, and offer messages and advice to those working with women who have endured similar experiences. The author examines issues the women commonly face such as finding safe and independent accommodation, building practical and emotional support systems and relationships, and issues surrounding their children. She also discusses service provision and draws together the factors that contribute to a successful and independent life. This unique book will be essential reading for all those involved in working with women who have experienced domestic violence and abuse as well as those responsible for service provision and policy development.

This book draws on interviews carried out over a period of eight years, as well as novels, films, and domestic violence literature, to explain the role of storytelling in the history of the battered women s movement. The author shows how cultural contexts shape how stories about domestic abuse get told, and offers critical tools for bringing psychology into discussions of group dynamics in the domestic violence field.

The book enlists psychoanalytic-feminist theory to analyse storytelling practices and to re-visit four areas of tension in the movement where signs of battle fatigue have been most acute. These areas include the conflicts that emerge between the battered women s movement and the state, the complex relationship between domestic violence and other social problems, and the question of whether woman battering is a special case that differs from other forms of social violence. The volume also looks at the tensions between groups of women within the movement, and how to address differences based on race, class or other dimensions of power. Finally, the book explores the contentious issue of how to acknowledge forms of female aggression while still preserving a gender analysis of intimate partner violence.

In attending to narrative dynamics in the history of domestic violence work, Hard Knocks presents a radical re-reading of the contribution of psychology to feminist interventions and activism. The book is ideal reading for scholars, activists, advocates and policy planners involved in domestic violence, and is suitable for students of psychology, social work, sociology and criminology.

Domestic Violence is not just a public health and criminal justice problem, it is also an issue of universal human rights that needs immediate and vigorous attention. How we measure the prevalence of Domestic Violence, what we identify as the risk factors, which theories seem to provide most help in understanding and responding to Domestic Violence, which preventive and treatment programs seem most effective and the respective roles of the health and criminal justice systems, are all questions of vital importance in society's response to the problem.

Praise for the First Edition:

All readers will be drawn to the style of the book as well as its content. The structure will make sure that it is not just a "one-off," being read as part of a course of study, but a book which is used frequently as a source of reference' - "Child Abuse Review

"

The Second Edition of this best-selling textbook provides students and practitioners with a broad introduction to, and critical analysis of, the complex issues involved in child protection work. Chris Beckett's approachable style presents these issues in a clear and engaging way, all the time encouraging reflection and debate through such features as case examples and interactive exercises.

The book is fully comprehensive, considering key topics such as: the consequences for children of abuse and neglect; the reasons why some adults abuse and neglect children; the personal challenges involved in doing child protection work; and the organizational framework within which child protection work takes place. Other key features of this thoroughly revised Second Edition include:

" Fully updated content: the book has been revised to incorporate new literature, research, legal and policy developments, including the recent Working Together guidelines

" Two new chapters: these comprise a chapter on families where there is domestic violence, and a chapter on promoting strategies for bringing about change

" Interprofessional appeal: the author addresses the book to all the professionals involved in child protection work, ensuring wide interdisciplinary appeal

The new edition of this highly successful textbook will be required reading for students studying social work andallied subjects, and an essential resource for all professionals involved in child protection work.

Chris Beckett is based at the Division of Social Work and Social Policy, Anglia Ruskin University. He is the author of three best-selling Sage textbooks: Human Growth and Development; Values and Ethics in Social Work (with Andrew Maynard); Essential Theory for Social Work Practice.

Find out more about Chris Beckett at the Anglia Ruskin University website

How do you respond simultaneously to the needs of adults experiencing domestic violence and the specific needs of their children? Domestic Violence and Child Protection explores the challenges of working effectively in this complex field and offers positive models for practice. Leading practitioners and researchers outline the essential safety considerations for children, adult victims and child protection workers, and stress the importance of children's experiences, using children's own words to describe their diverse needs. The contributors offer examples of good practice in prevention, intervention and recovery, drawn from international settings. They highlight new directions for policy and practice, and consider whether these might be achieved through increased communication and coordination between agencies, or by developing multiprofessional agencies that are able to offer integrated responses. Individual chapters address child abduction, legal issues concerning child contact arrangements, and dealing with abuse in the context of divorce. Including perspectives from social services, health services and the voluntary sector, this book is a valuable source of information and ideas on how to work safely and sensitively with children living with domestic violence and will be a key reference for social workers, health professionals and policy makers.