If a man has a history of abuse and addiction, it seems like incarceration is not the answer, but treatment and therapy might be. It seems the court systems do not look at it that way. Certainly, it's important to get the abuser away from the victim, but it's also important to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Another author notes, "Partner violence represents a serious public health problem in the United States. In a nationally representative survey, approximately 1.8 million women reported being severely assaulted by their male partners during the preceding year" (Thompson et al., 2000, p. 127). This complements the chapter discussion, and so many of the class discussions. The class discussions open up new issues and make the readers think harder about some of the issues that surround partner violence, including the court's role in these issues.
The chapter contradicts some of the class discussions, however, especially in the area of arrest. Many people support the arrest of both parties in mutual battering cases, but the court frowns on this practice. I'm not sure I agree with it either. The victim may just be fighting back in self-defense, and in that case, the victim should not be punished. It is interesting that often, the court does not find fault with either party when both are arrested. That seems like a cop-out, because the court is supposed to be able to judge who is wrong and right, or guilty and innocent, and then impose the proper penalty. If they let both parties go in this case, it seems they are just giving "permission" for the abuse to continue, and that is not supposed to be the court's role. In this case, the discussion really deviates from the text, and that is interesting...
They show the real severity of the problem, and another issue that is not addressed as often as it should be - the victim who stays with the abuser, or believes they can change the abuser somehow. These victims need counseling and help just as much as the abusers do, because somehow they feel they are not worth anything, or "deserve" the abuse, and that is extremely sad. I think the class discussions open up new ideas and possibilities because so many student have real experience in this area.
References
Flett, G.L. (2002). Chapter 4 Personality factors and substance abuse in relationship violence and child abuse: a review and theoretical analysis. In the violence and addiction equation: Theoretical and clinical issues in substance abuse and relationship violence, Werkle, C. & Wall, a. (Eds.) (pp. 64-97). New York: Brunner/Routledge.
Eyler, a.E. And Cohen, M. (1999). Case studies in partner violence. Retrieved 15 March 2008 from the American Academy of Family Physicians Web site: http://www.aafp.org/afp/991201ap/2569.html.
Rennison, C.M. And Welchans, S. (2000). Intimate partner violence. Retrieved 15 March 2008 from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Web site: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipv.pdf.1-11.
Thompson, M.P., Kaslow, N.J., Kingree, J.B., Rashid, a., Puett, R., Jacobs, D., et al. (2000). Partner violence, social support and distress among inner-city African-American women. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28(1), 127.
