NCJ Number
110042
Journal
Prosecutor Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1988) Pages: 15-20
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes a comprehensive, coordinated, effective response to domestic violence that focuses on the interrelationships among the prosecutor's office and other criminal justice and community agencies.
Abstract
An overview of the dynamics of domestic violence argues that traditional criminal justice intervention often perpetuates the cycle of violence. The authors present the case history of how a medium-size criminal justice system in a rapidly growing suburb changed its response to domestic violence cases. In the Denver suburb of Aurora, a police officer suggested accelerating court arraignments for domestic violence cases. He theorized that each party would still be under the influence of the acute battering incident and more receptive to counseling as an alternative if subjected to an immediate encounter with the court. The article describes how this plan was implemented in a major, systemwide effort that involved police, prosecutors, courts, treatment agencies, and a battered women's shelter. The article details a six-step plan for implementing a similar program: commitment from those involved, researching the issue, developing a policy statement, assessing organizational capabilities, procedures and protocols, and resource management. 7 footnotes.