Book Description

This volume takes a comprehensive look at the social responses to violence, making an important contribution to the literature on family violence research and policy. It first considers the meaning of family violence and the reasons why some victims do not accept help. The chapters then focus on social responses to the problems of family violence, including the growth of shelters and programmes for batterers, the changing response of the criminal justice system, and the resistance of the medical and health systems. The challenges confronting the caring services, the effectiveness of child protection and foster care programmes, and importance of prevention are also discussed.