This paper examines two intersecting areas of family violence: the legal framework surrounding domestic violence and the therapeutic treatment of child sexual abuse. The first section analyzes landmark court decisions — Castle Rock v. Gonzales and Thurman v. City of Torrington — to assess police obligations toward domestic violence victims and the role of restraining orders. The second section addresses a case study involving a child sexual abuse victim named Alexis and her offending uncle Anthony, exploring evidence-based treatments including Trauma-Focused CBT, group therapy, and mandated sex offender treatment. The paper concludes with recommendations for preventive awareness and early intervention strategies.
Awareness about the psychology behind domestic violence has been greatly enhanced in recent years, as have legal protections for victims. However, the courts' major decisions on domestic violence cases have been somewhat equivocal. In the case of Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005), an abused woman filed a complaint against the police department, arguing that it violated her right to Due Process when, "acting pursuant to official policy or custom," the police "failed to respond to her repeated reports over several hours that her estranged husband had taken their three children in violation of her restraining order against him. Ultimately, the husband murdered the children" (Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 2012, Cornell). In the case, the woman had a restraining order against her husband prohibiting him from coming near her or her children. However, the court ultimately did not find in favor of the plaintiff, since a restraining order was deemed not to confer a property "right."
In the case of Thurman v. City of Torrington (1984), however, a different conclusion was reached. When Tracey Thurman's husband repeatedly assaulted her and police ignored numerous violations of restraining orders, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut found that "city officials and police officers… [must] protect the personal safety of persons in the community. This duty applies equally to women whose personal safety is threatened by individuals with whom they have or have had a domestic relationship" (Hiatt, 2011). This ruling represented a significant step forward in establishing that law enforcement bears an affirmative duty to protect domestic violence victims.
Officers must be briefed on the seriousness of domestic violence so that they understand violence between partners is not a "normal" or acceptable situation. Additionally, they must be aware of the symptoms of domestic abuse as exhibited by victims, which may include reluctance to report a violent spouse and a fear of leaving the situation — feelings that are sadly often part of the psychology of a battered spouse. Enabling the victim to obtain a restraining order, connecting her with battered women's shelters, and pursuing other protective measures are essential components of helping victims. Shelters and agencies specifically designed to address this issue can give women a safe place to stay and connect them with resources to become more economically self-sufficient, as well as physically separate them from their abusers.
Alexis is suffering from one of the most common forms of sexual abuse — abuse at the hands of a family member. Children who are victims of sexual abuse may experience shame, self-blame, and a disrupted sense of normalcy. This disrupted sense of normalcy is one reason that "group therapy is generally regarded as the treatment of choice for sexual abuse. However, groups are usually offered concurrently with other treatment modalities, and some clients may need individual treatment before they are ready for group therapy" (Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse, 2012, Child Welfare Information Gateway). For children who feel as though they must have "done something wrong" because they were victimized, group therapy can be valuable in exposing them to other children who have suffered similar trauma. However, Alexis would also likely benefit from individual sessions to discuss her personal experiences in greater depth, given her age and the traumatic nature of being harmed by a trusted family member.
If Alexis is suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as a result of her abuse, she may need more intensive therapy to address its symptoms. The symptoms may include flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and depression. The child may also develop phobias related to events associated with the abuse. With Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), "the child may talk about his or her memory of the trauma. TF-CBT also includes techniques to help lower worry and stress. The child may learn how to assert him or herself. The therapy may involve learning to change thoughts or beliefs about the trauma that are not correct or true. For example, after a trauma, a child may start thinking, 'the world is totally unsafe'" (PTSD in Children and Teens, 2012, Department of Veterans Affairs). CBT helps the child replace anxious, distorted thoughts with more realistic ones and place her experiences in a healthier context.
For Alexis's uncle Anthony, support groups for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have themselves become offenders can also be useful. In group therapy settings for such individuals, the intention is that group support will help provide accountability, reducing the likelihood that the offender will reoffend. "The rationale for this is the argument that sex offenders require group therapy because effective confrontation of manipulative behavior can only be done by other individuals who have been through the same dynamic" (Wakefield & Underwager, 1991). Individual therapy may also be appropriate. CBT can help adult survivors of sexual abuse manage PTSD symptoms, regulate urges, and identify negative thinking patterns that lead to harmful behaviors.
If Anthony pleads guilty to sexually abusing Alexis, therapy is likely to be an integral part of his sentence. "For those convicted of sex crimes, probation with mandated treatment along with some jail time is a common disposition. The major goal of treatment for sex offenders is the prevention of sexual offenses in the future" (Wakefield & Underwager, 1991). In some instances, mandatory talk therapy will be recommended alongside or in place of incarceration. The degree to which the sentencing judge views molestation as an illness versus a crime will substantially affect the sentence Anthony receives.
"TF-CBT for PTSD symptoms in abused children"
"Treatment and sentencing for adult sex offenders"
"Preventive strategies and community awareness efforts"
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