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Perceptions of Judicial and Psychosocial Interveners of the Consequences of Dropped Charges in Domestic Violence Cases

NCJ Number
233297
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 16 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2010 Pages: 1375-1395
Author(s)
Sonia Gauthier
Date Published
December 2010
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article examines the dismissal of criminal charges in domestic violence cases.
Abstract
Many domestic violence cases do not go to trial because the victim refuses to testify. This article presents a qualitative study exploring the dismissal of criminal charges in domestic violence cases. The 22 judicial and psychosocial professionals interviewed in Montreal, Canada, discussed various consequences of the legal decision to dismiss the charges on victims, perpetrators, justice system professionals, and society as a whole. Respondents clearly did not view the withdrawal of charges as a failure of the criminalization of domestic violence. (Published Abstract)