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Public Preferences for the Court’s Handling of Domestic Violence Situations

Stalans, Loretta J.
June 4, 2015

Source: (1995) Crime & Delinquency. 41(4):399-413.

This article examins public opinion about court dispositions in domestic violence cases. Adult residents in Georgia were asked to short scenarios involving their spouses and intimate partners. The scenarios were varied on three factors: the intentionality of harm, the presence of injury, and a history of injury in previous domestic disputes. Participants perfered dismissal when, according to the scenario, their spouces acted unintentionally and when they did not reciece injury in the current dispute. Women and men perferred counceling significantly more than they wanted jail or probation. Also, women perferred jail and counseling more than men. The most perferred disposition overall was court-ordered mediation.

Tags:

AbstractCourtsDomestic ViolenceFamiliesPolicePolicyRJ OfficeStatutes and LegislationTeachers and Students
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