Family Violence and Criminal Justice

Family Violence & Criminal Justice: A Life-Course Approach, Third Edition, presents a life-course approach for the study of family violence. Life-course perspective focuses on stability and change in behavior across a person's life span. It suggests possible reasons or processes (e.g. biological, psychological, or sociological) that maintain continuity or promote change in behavioral patterns throughout life's course. Rather than compartmentalizing or segregating forms of violence, such as child abuse, partner violence, and elder abuse, into distinct arenas, a life-course approach encourages us to conceptually link these unique but related forms of violence.
The book contains 11 chapters that cover research methods for studying family violence; theories of family violence; violence at the beginning of the life course (child abuse and neglect), in early adulthood and beyond (violence between intimate partners), and at the end of the life course (elder abuse and neglect); and the criminal justice system and its response to family violence. Aside from the box inserts, entitled "From the Field and "Research Shows, which are carried over from the Second Edition, this edition includes another box insert called "Tool Box, which provides specific tips for professionals dealing with issues discussed in each chapter.

• Tables, figures, charts, discussion questions and helpful boxes with supplemental information titled "Tool Box," "From the Field," and "Research Shows" enhance the text.