Citation

Buzawa E, Hotaling GT, Byrne J. Brief Treat. Crisis Interv. 2007; 7(1): 55-76.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/brief-treatment/mhl020

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While there has been much attention focused on offenders, crime, and desistance from crime through the life course, researchers have largely ignored victimization and desistance from victimization through the life course. Focusing specifically on domestic violence among a cohort of offenders and victims in a single court setting (Quincy, Massachusetts), the authors explore the factors (including both offender and victim characteristics) related to revictimization and then examine the difference between those victims who do not report revictimization to the police and those victims who do report .The research reported here demonstrates that a childhood history of abuse may increase the probability that revictimization--if/when it occurs--will not be reported to police. The implications of this finding for criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence are discussed, focusing on (a) the development of new strategies for the identification and control of revictimization that are proactive and police- and/or probation-driven as well as (b) new approaches to treatment and crisis intervention that recognize the importance of understanding victimization--both at the individual and family level--throughout the life course. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)