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Family Violence: Improving Court Practice

NCJ Number
131619
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: (1990) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1990
Length
85 pages
Annotation
The problem of family violence has not been adequately addressed by the criminal justice system although recent years have seen heightened public awareness of the issue. The Family Violence Project was initiated in 1987 in three sites (Portland, Oreg.; Wilmington, Del.; and Quincy, Mass.) to develop new approaches.
Abstract
The project produced recommendations that will be developed into a training curriculum for criminal justice professionals. Courts and law enforcement should regard family violence cases as serious criminal cases and not as mere family matters. All branches of government should devote adequate resources to family violence cases, and every community should have an officially recognized family violence coordinating council. Victims should be able to utilize all available legal remedies without having to choose between them. Judges and law enforcement personnel should be trained in the dynamics of family violence. Bail and release conditions should be consistent with other assault offenses to maximize protection for the victim. 2 figures, 83 footnotes, and 39 references