Domestic violence and child abuse: developing sensitive policies and guidance

Abstract

Domestic violence is everywhere and nowhere. No statutory organization or health service has work with either perpetrators or survivors of domestic violence (usually women and children) as the primary focus of their service, yet all agencies will have very significant numbers among their clients/service users. It is therefore crucial that the policy framework is developed both within and between agencies to address the need, and scope, of intervention in this area and particularly the impact on children. Currently, significant steps have been taken by some agencies in the UK to address this previously neglected issue, though the developments are patchy. This paper draws on a UK-wide research study which mapped the extent and range of service provision for families where there is domestic violence and also developed a framework of good practice indicators for 'Mapped the extent and range of service provision for families where there is domestic violence and also developed a framework of good practice indicators' provision in this area. This article examines one of the indicators of good practice arising from the research-that of policy development-within social service departments and within the multi-agency arena.

Crime and Violence in Trinidad and Tobago: IDB Series on Crime and Violence in the Caribbean

“…Other research has found that over one-quarter of the men on death row in Trinidad and Tobago have been charged with killing their wives, girlfriends, or common-law spouses (Women and Development Studies Group, 1994). Domestic violence has also been linked to child abuse (Anaya, 2004;Humphreys et al, 2001;Jouriles et al, 2008). As such, where women are abused, other family members may also be at risk.…”

Parents as Prisoners: Maintaining the Parent-child Relationship

“…It was clear that this was the case for the children in this study; children in the age group of six to ten years with a mother currently in prison and who had been in prison, had experienced a high level of child protection intevention as well as family fragmentation. The criminal convictions for the mothers of this group of children confirmed the pattern of substance abuse, mental health problems, family violence and child abuse and neglect noted by McGuigan and Pratt (2001), Humphreys et al (2001) and Goddard and Stanley (2004). The mothers in the study were in overwhelmingly prison for theft, drug related offences, murder (in one case) and armed robbery.…”

“…Whilst female prisoners represent approximately 7% of the prison population across Australia, female prisoners are generally young, and have dependent children. Life before prison for many women and their children is marked by unsettled housing, low incomes, substance abuse, mental health problems, family violence and child abuse and neglect (McGuigan and Pratt, 2001;Humphreys, Mullender, Lowe, Hague, Abrahams and Hester, 2001;Stanley and Goddard, 2004).…”

‘From awareness to practice’: children, domestic violence and child welfare

“…Indeed, Humphreys et al (2001) premise their good practice guidelines on a similar assumption: that services should be 'refocused . .…”

“…But there is very little evidence that the changes in domestic violence guidance and legal options have affected practice to the benefit of the children concerned. Indeed, when Humphreys et al (2001) sought to survey this area, they were able only to discover what various agencies regarded as good practice rather than describe what good practice was going on. Unfortunately, the global evidence that child welfare systems can change in regard to domestic violence is scarce and pessimistic.…”