Domestic Violence Courts

Anita Neuberger Blowers

Domestic violence is one of the most significant issues facing the criminal justice system today. It is estimated that domestic violence is the leading cause of injuries in women aged fifteen to forty-four. In the 1980s, C. Everett Koop, the U.S. surgeon general, called domestic violence the number one health risk for adult women—greater than the risk of muggings, auto accidents, and cancer deaths combined. The passage of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act heightened public awareness of domestic violence and its detrimental effects on society. As awareness of domestic violence has increased, society has been more willing to acknowledge the complexity and prevalence of the problem. Although law enforcement was the first segment of the criminal justice system to institute major reforms in its response to domestic violence, court systems across the nation are increasingly forming institutional partnerships aimed at improving the prosecution and adjudication of domestic violence cases. ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.