This book sensitizes the reader to the fact that there is substantial disagreement within the academic community, and among policymakers and the general public, over what behaviors, conditions (e.g., physical attributes), and people should be designated as deviant or criminal. Normative conceptions, the societal reaction/labeling approach, and the critical approach are offered as frameworks within which to study these definitions. A comprehensive explanation of theory and social policy on deviance is constructed.

This book is the first to investigate the effects of participation in separation or divorce proceedings on femicide (murder of a female), femicide-suicide, homicide, and suicide. Because separation is one of the most significant predictors of domestic violence, this book is exclusively devoted to theorizing, researching, and preventing lethal domestic violence or other assaults triggered by marital separation. The authors provide evidence supporting the use of an estrangement-specific risk assessment and estrangement-focused public education to prevent murders and assaults. This information is needed not only by instructors in criminal justice and sociology programs, but by researchers theorizing about or investigating domestic violence. In the world of practitioners, family court judges, divorce mediators, family lawyers, prosecutors involved in bail hearings, shelter staff, and family counselors urgently need this resource. Ellis et al. include discussion questions and chapter objectives to support learners in the classroom or in community-based settings, and instructor support material includes PowerPoint lecture slides, additional teaching and research resources, and a test bank. This text advocates convincingly for prevention of domestic violence, and gives academics and practitioners the tools they need. This text advocates convincingly for prevention of domestic violence, and gives academics and practitioners the tools they need.

This book is an important tool for any mediator who works with divorce and couples in understanding the impact domestic violence can have on the mediating process. --Bruce E. Antman, J.D., Director, The M.A.N.E. Institute, Los Angeles Conflicts associated with marital separation and divorce have traditionally been settled by lawyers through negotiations. Since 1980 an increasing proportion of these conflicts have been settled or resolved through the process of marital conflict mediation. But supporters of each approach remain at odds, each criticizing the other in an ideologically driven standoff. Now Mediating and Negotiating Marital Conflicts presents an empirically grounded discussion of the outcomes of negotiation and mediation. Based on the authors' comparative evaluation of marital separation and divorce clients of lawyers in private practice and clients of a court-based mediation service, this volume is designed to stimulate theory-guided, problem-focused research on spousal violence and power imbalances in divorce mediation. While building up theory, the authors also provide crucial, detailed information on implementing court-based mediation services in a way that protects often powerless partners from further abuse and other harmful consequences. A special chapter also considers the impact of the separation process on children. Written for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students, Mediating and Negotiating Marital Conflicts contributes to knowledge that is valuable in a variety of fields, including social work, clinical/counseling psychology, gender studies, criminology/criminal justice, family studies, and law.

This book sensitizes the reader to the fact that there is substantial disagreement within the academic community, and among policymakers and the general public, over what behaviors, conditions (e.g., physical attributes), and people should be designated as deviant or criminal. Normative conceptions, the societal reaction/labeling approach, and the critical approach are offered as frameworks within which to study these definitions. A comprehensive explanation of theory and social policy on deviance is constructed.

Chapters contain boxed insert material, charts, tables, discussion questions, problem-solving scenarios, suggested readings, and online resources.

This book is the first to investigate the effects of participation in separation or divorce proceedings on femicide (murder of a female), femicide-suicide, homicide, and suicide. Because separation is one of the most significant predictors of domestic violence, this book is exclusively devoted to theorizing, researching, and preventing lethal domestic violence or other assaults triggered by marital separation. The authors provide evidence supporting the use of an estrangement-specific risk assessment and estrangement-focused public education to prevent murders and assaults. This information is needed not only by instructors in criminal justice and sociology programs, but by researchers theorizing about or investigating domestic violence. In the world of practitioners, family court judges, divorce mediators, family lawyers, prosecutors involved in bail hearings, shelter staff, and family counselors urgently need this resource. Ellis et al. include discussion questions and chapter objectives to support learners in the classroom or in community-based settings, and instructor support material includes PowerPoint lecture slides, additional teaching and research resources, and a test bank. This text advocates convincingly for prevention of domestic violence, and gives academics and practitioners the tools they need. This text advocates convincingly for prevention of domestic violence, and gives academics and practitioners the tools they need.

"This book is an important tool for any mediator who works with divorce and couples in understanding the impact domestic violence can have on the mediating process." --Bruce E. Antman, J.D., Director, The M.A.N.E. Institute, Los Angeles Conflicts associated with marital separation and divorce have traditionally been settled by lawyers through negotiations. Since 1980 an increasing proportion of these conflicts have been settled or resolved through the process of marital conflict mediation. But supporters of each approach remain at odds, each criticizing the other in an ideologically driven standoff. Now Mediating and Negotiating Marital Conflicts presents an empirically grounded discussion of the outcomes of negotiation and mediation. Based on the authors' comparative evaluation of marital separation and divorce clients of lawyers in private practice and clients of a court-based mediation service, this volume is designed to stimulate theory-guided, problem-focused research on spousal violence and power imbalances in divorce mediation. While building up theory, the authors also provide crucial, detailed information on implementing court-based mediation services in a way that protects often powerless partners from further abuse and other harmful consequences. A special chapter also considers the impact of the separation process on children. Written for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students, Mediating and Negotiating Marital Conflicts contributes to knowledge that is valuable in a variety of fields, including social work, clinical/counseling psychology, gender studies, criminology/criminal justice, family studies, and law.