Greater Expectations: Overcoming the Culture of Indulgence in America's Homes and Schools , by William Damon, 285 pp, $23, ISBN 0-02-906935-1, New York, NY, The Free Press, 1995. In Beating the Devil out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families , Murray A. Straus begins by lamenting the lack of attention that social scientists and researchers have given to corporal punishment and its effect on children. He argues that the acceptance of corporal punishment by parents, teachers, and even those who write books on child development has led to the tendency to ignore the relationship of this form of violence perpetrated against children by their parents to all other forms of violence. Perhaps one of the more convincing arguments that appears throughout the book is that using violence to correct misbehavior or solve problems teaches the child, often beginning in the infancy and toddler years, that one uses violence to correct wrongs.

Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families

From a domestic violence victim's first call to police or visit to a women's shelter, through the offender's bail, sentencing, parole, and treatment program, criminal justice officers and clinicians must make informed decisions about which cases need the most attention as well as ensure targeted provisions are in place to prevent recurrences of violence. The authors make a powerful case for using actuarial risk assessments to predict recidivism in male domestic violence offenders. They draw on the authors' in-depth empirical studies of violent men and their extensive experience with recidivism risk assessment in policing, court cases, offender assessment, and victim services. It is also a user's manual - replete with all the scoring, reporting, and interpreting details needed to effectively use the ODARA/DVRAG system.

Risk Assessment for Domestically Violent Men: Tools for Criminal Justice, Offender Intervention, and Victim Services

The Canadian government has introduced numerous policies, guidelines, and mandates at the federal and provincial levels that recognize woman abuse as a serious social problem and violation of the law. Nonetheless, recent feminist research continues to expose laws and practices that fail woman abuse victims. The present study examined the experiences of women victims in domestic violence cases and the barriers they faced in dealing with the police, the courts, and social service agencies. Despite government initiatives, the study results corroborate previous findings indicating that many battered women feel further traumatized by ambivalent or discriminatory attitudes and practices prevalent within the system.

Systemic Obstacles to Battered Women's Participation in the Judicial System When Will the Status Quo Change?

Although most battered women seeking formal help have some contact with court, limited research exists on what they find helpful and harmful about these experiences. Using qualitative data from low-income, largely Black battered women, this study finds that issues related to court outcomes, such as case disposition and enforcement, are important to evaluations of helpfulness. More frequently mentioned, however, are court processes, including treatment by staff, process length, and public disclosure. Results highlight the importance of research and practice attending to issues beyond court outcomes, as well as the potential impact supportive treatment at court may have for victims' recovery.

Battered Women’s Perceptions of Civil and Criminal Court Helpfulness: The Role of Court Outcome and Process

This study used Q methodology to better understand battered women's views about the criminal justice system (CJS) Fifty-eight abused and formerly abused women, representing a broad range of experiences, were involved in the study Participants sorted 72 statements about domestic violence and the CJS according to how strongly they agreed with each one in relation to the other statements A small subset of women was interviewed to help illuminate the emerging perspectives Five perspectives that are new in both their complexity and in their substance were identified: (1) The CJS can be trusted; (2) The CJS has potential, but is ultimately disappointing to victims; (3) Victims should have input into the CJS and be sure they want to use it; (4) The CJS cannot protect women and can make matters worse; and (5) The CJS should be used for her safety, for his rehabilitation, and for justice despite its problems

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Abused Women's Perspectives on the Criminal Justice System's Response to Domestic Violence:

Over a decade ago, the Canadian government and most provinces implemented a criminalization strategy for wife assault. The policy has as its main goals the reduction of case attrition through the prosecution process from charge to disposition, and the imposition of appropriate sentences upon conviction. These goals are achieved through removing police discretion in charging, and reducing the number of cases withdrawn or stayed by the Crown prosecutor. Evaluations of the policy suggest it has strong support from justice professionals who work within the system. This paper presents data from interviews with 94 women whose male partners had been charged with assaulting them. Views and experiences of women are presented, and indicate complex views of mandatory charging. The findings support the conclusions that women do not equate calling the police with the criminal prosecution of their spouses, and often experience additional anxiety, frustration and disempowerment as a direct result of the strategy. Howeve...

Women's Experiences with Mandatory Charging for Wife Assault in Ontario, Canada: A Case Against the Prosecution

Criminal justice reform in the context of indigenous peoples in Canada has been motivated by both their over-representation at each stage of the administration of justice and their extreme cultural, social and political dislocation. The extent to which reforms can overcome institutionalised colonial practices is challenged by the experiences of Inuit inmates in Nunavut. It is argued that the correctional response to indigenous people in Canada is largely rhetorical and has led to few meaningful changes to the lives of Inuit inmates.

Plus Ça Change? ‘Correcting’ Inuit Inmates in Nunavut, Canada

Two post-charge criminal court diversion projects were recently launched in Toronto, Canada. Individuals charged with criminal offences who meet strict criteria are diverted from the criminal process in exchange for performing a community sanction. Under this model, direct community involvement is critical to ‘success’. This study is an evaluation of these projects, combining file data with the results of interviews with the main participants. Results suggest that the projects are highly successful, and that involved communities are highly supportive of the current form and structure of post-charge diversion.

How to Put the Community in Community‐Based Justice: Some Views of Participants in Criminal Court Diversion

Two post-charge criminal court diversion projects were recently launched in Toronto, Canada. Individuals charged with criminal offenses who meet strict criteria are diverted from the criminal process in exchange for performing a community sanction. Under this model, direct community involvement is critical to 'success'. This study is an evaluation of these projects, combining file data with the results of interviews with the main participants. Results suggest that the projects are highly successful, and that involved communities are highly supportive of the current form and structure of post-charge diversion.

How to Put the Community in Community-Based Justice: Some Views of Participants in Criminal Court Diversion

Canadian data show that children and youth experience high degrees of violence in their lives. A significant degree of this violence occurs within the family, and can be attributed to excesive ‘correction’ or physical discipline. Indeed, section 43 of the Canadian Criminal Code permits the use of ‘reasonable’ force for the purposes of correction. This paper presents data on police response to allegations of excessive or illegal corporal punishment under current Canadian legislation. As the gatekeepers to the courts, the police act as the social, legal and moral guardians of the use of corporal punishment in Canada. The findings suggest that there is significant variation in police response both to the range and seriousness of incidents of corporal punishment. Much of this can be attributed to the normal exercise of police discretion. However, the breadth and lack of clarity in the law itself is an additional, problematic source of uncertainty and undermines attempts to reduce violence in the lives of chil...

Tammy C. Landau

Papers

Women's Experiences with Mandatory Charging for Wife Assault in Ontario, Canada: A Case Against the Prosecution

Plus Ça Change? ‘Correcting’ Inuit Inmates in Nunavut, Canada

How to Put the Community in Community‐Based Justice: Some Views of Participants in Criminal Court Diversion

How to Put the Community in Community-Based Justice: Some Views of Participants in Criminal Court Diversion

Policing the Punishment: Charging Practices Under Canada's Corporal Punishment Laws