Citation

Burton M. J. Soc. Welfare Fam. Law 2000; 22(2): 175-191.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01418030050077653

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Increasing attention is being paid to the problem of children as the secondary victims of domestic violence. It is now well documented that children suffer as a result of domestic violence. However, it has yet to be shown how, if at all, the presence of children as direct or indirect victims influences the decision-making of the police and prosecutors in those cases of domestic violence which enter the criminal justice process. The findings of an empirical study of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that shed light on this issue are discussed in this article. The research, which combined an analysis of case files with observations and discussions with prosecutors, suggests important differences between the approach of the police and CPS lawyers.