Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice

by Nicola Groves (Author), Terry Thomas (Author)

This book aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive introduction to the subject of domestic violence and its interaction with the criminal justice system- including agencies such as the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the probation service and Children's Services, the courts and the prison service, as well as voluntary agencies such as Women's Aid. The book also looks at how these various agencies work together at a local level and the coordinating role of the Home Office and the direction provided at a central level.

Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice examines the phenomenon of domestic violence, the various forms it takes and the theories that have been put forward to explain it. It takes an historical approach to examine policy and legislative developments over the last forty years and how those developments make themselves manifest today. The authors provide an authoritative and critical account of the different agencies and the work they carry out both independently and jointly; they also consider the limits of a crime centred response to domestic violence.

The book provides a conceptual framework in which domestic violence and criminal justice might be better understood. It covers all the current issues in this field and it will be a 'source book' in directing readers to further reading. It will be essential reading for both students and practitioners in the field.

Review
‘An excellent whistle-stop tour of everything a student should know about domestic violence and criminal justice. Easy to read and up-to-date - a must-read.’

Professor Nicole Westmarland, Co-Director of Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse, Durham University, UK.

‘This is an important and timely book, which provides a unique overview of relevant law, policy, recent history and current practice. It is meticulous in its scholarship and wise in its conclusions.’ Ken Pease, Visiting Professor and Fellow, Jill Dando Institute, University College London, UK.

‘A "must-read" for professionals, students, the voluntary sector, and anyone seeking to understand the nature of domestic violence and responses to it by the government, law, police and criminal justice practitioners.

From a very contemporary standpoint, this important book critically reviews the development of legal, policing and criminal justice policies since domestic violence was transformed by feminism from a private trouble to a social issue still high on political agendas. It examines the insidious and harmful nature of domestic violence and its many forms, asking whether the patriarchal criminal justice system of England and Wales alone is able to deal effectively with such dangerous and damaging complexities.’

Jill Radford, Professor Emerita, Teesside University, UK.

About the Author
Nicola Groves is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Leeds Metropolitan University and she specialises in teaching and research into domestic violence. Prior to becoming an academic Nicola worked in the voluntary sector primarily in the area of domestic violence.

Terry Thomas is Visiting Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University. He is a former local authority social worker and team leader and is currently engaged in research in the areas of domestic violence and sexual offending.