Violent Partners http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Violent-Partners-Linda-Mill/9780465018246?isbn=0465018246

A Breakthrough Plan for Ending the Cycle of Abuse

By Linda Mill

Reviews

From the establishment of the first shelter (1974) to the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (1994), domestic violence has become a more visible social problem. Mills, a lawyer and social worker who founded the Center on Violence and Recovery at New York University, raises the question of whether the resulting criminalization of domestic violence has actually made America safer. She concludes that it has not and marshals an impressive array of relevant research, realistic case studies, and personal experience to support her view. Early chapters cover the history of the "battered women's movement," the origins and dynamics of intimate abuse, and surprising racial and cultural differences. Because the problem is so complex, she argues that new treatments are needed, especially in cases where couples wish to stay together. Furthermore, traditional approaches favored by activists may even exacerbate the problem. The restorative justice model she espouses ("Circles") relies on couple and group encounters deemphasizing shame and guilt. Research comparing the success rates of the various batterer intervention programs is obviously needed. The ideas are highly controversial, yet this book is authoritative, reasonable, and easy to grasp. Strongly recommended for social work and criminal justice collections.--Antoinette Brinkman, MLS, Evansville, IN Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.