Women, Domestic Violence, and the Criminal Justice System
Women, Domestic Violence, and the Criminal Justice System
Traumatic Pathways
This chapter describes women’s experiences of recent justice reforms intended to enhance the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions in incidents of domestic battering, specifically mandatory arrest laws and no-drop policies. Domestic violence is a form of complex trauma that is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes. This chapter discusses how trauma-related symptoms explain women’s responses to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse as well as their ambivalent attitudes towards the justice and mental health systems. It also highlights the way racial and gender stereotypes, poverty, immigration status, and fear of social rejection constitute barriers to seeking help. Lastly, this chapter highlights the principles of a gender-responsive, trauma-informed approach to the treatment of female survivors of domestic violence.
Keywords: domestic violence, trauma, criminal justice
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