Synopses & Reviews
This is an honest and insightful discussion of domestic violence from the perspective of a police officer who has experienced it in his home and encountered it professionally. Davis, a sociologist as well, uses his dual background to demonstrate that current treatment of domestic violence abuses is ineffective. A must read for all police officers, criminologists, and citizens who care about finding a successful solution to this issue.
Ann W. Burgess, Chair of the Panel on Research on Violence Against Women, established by the National Research Council in 1995 at the request of congress writes that, Since the mid 1970s the body of research on violence against women has grown, yet misinformation abounds, and we seem little closer to ending violence against women now than 20 years ago. This book proposes that continuing to rely on the criminal justice system as the remedy for domestic violence is irresponsible and illogical public policy. This nation remains incapable of framing a coherent, consistent, or understandable criminal justice procedure that has effectively prevented domestic violence. Arrest without proper sanctions or proper supervision of abusers and the issuance of civil restraining orders without valid programs in place to assist the victims of abuse are predestined to failure. Current policies that provide for reactive intervention in domestic violence incidents must be replaced by policies that address the cause of domestic violence rather than simply treating its symptoms. This book explains why the criminal justice system can not prevent domestic violence and what the proper role of the criminal justice system should be.
To prevent domestic violence we must concentrate on educational programs and policies that provide for alteration of our social and cultural patterns of behavior that foster this form of abuse. The formula to prevent or curb the continued escalation of domestic violence is available to women by means of our democratic process. Women can challenge the thousands of years of male domination politically, economically and socially by taking public office. The instrumentality to curb what goes on behind the closed doors of our homes and the mechanism to challenge what goes on behind the closed mahogany doors of Capitol Hill are one and the same. The illusory goal of equality of gender, equality and sameness are not synonymous, should be exchanged for a goal of an equity of conduct and a comportment of behavior that provides for fairness and frankness towards one another and a renewed respect for each other.
Review
This text by a career police officer is a well-researched and academic study on the subject of domestic violence.New York Cop Online
Review
Combining scholarly research and his own experiences as a police officer, Davis persuasively makes the case that, as a broad institution, the criminal justice system has miserably failed the victims of intra-family violence....Davis' explanation of how court system boondoggles thwart efforts to deter spousal attacks is alone worth the price of the book....Our understanding of domestic violence is becoming more sophisticated. And Davis, street-smart and informed, is challenging us to update our laws to reflect that growing awareness.APB Online www.apbonline.com
Review
[T]his book is not just another pie in the sky, I feel your pain, liberal bedtime story....Davis' book is very well written and speaks to the side of domestic violence that is very seldom addressed. It is a common sense approach....recommend[ed] for all law enforcement professionals involved in policy development and domestic violence training....also a must read for every police recruit in the country.The Law Enforcement Trainer's Page
Review
Davis data is well researched....He raises difficult questions, especially in regard to how we permit children to live in violent homes and then, unrealistically, expect them to grow up into outstanding citizens. Davis outlines steps that society must take in order to hold a proactive stance against the crime of domestic violence. He ends his text with a call to action for all women who must become informed and take back their power in the political areana. Although Domestic Violence is probably used mostly as a college text, I found it an easy read, almost conversational at times. It would be a good book for the Domestic Violence Unit library.The Rap Sheet
Review
...brings refreshingly skeptical and hard-nosed common sense to what is purported to be know about the subject.Domestic Violence Prevention
Synopsis
An honest and insightful discussion of domestic violence from the perspective of a police officer who has experienced it in his home and encountered it professionally.
Synopsis
This is an honest and insightful discussion of domestic violence from the perspective of a police officer who has experienced it in his home and encountered it professionally. Davis, a sociologist as well, uses his dual background to demonstrate that current treatment of domestic violence abuses is ineffective. A must read for all police officers, criminologists, and citizens who care about finding a successful solution to this issue.
About the Author
RICHARD L. DAVIS is Adjunct Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Quincy College at Plymouth.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Shift of Resolve
Roadmap
Pieces of the Puzzle
Opening Closed Doors
Mandatory Arrest and Restraining Orders
Domestic Violence Prototype
Teaching, Enforcement, and Mediation
The Winds of Change
Afterword
Appendix
The National Institute of Justice Studies
Family Disputes
Police Policy and Procedure
Domestic Violence Policy Involving Law Enforcement Personnel
A Clear Concise Policy
Massachusetts General Law C.209 A
Massachusetts General Law 265 S.43, Stalking
Definition of Terms
Bibliography
Index