Domestic violence: A comparative study of perceptions and attitudes toward domestic abuse cases among social service and criminal justice professionals

Abstract

Addressing the diverse and interdisciplinary needs of victims and abusers of acts of domestic violence requires efforts of collaboration on the part of both social service and justice professions. Yet information on the extent to which practitioners in various professions share common perceptions and attitudes toward victims and perpetrators of domestic violence is somewhat limited. This article evaluates the extent to which professionals from six social service and criminal justice agencies share similar attitudes and perceptions relative to the definitions of various acts of domestic violence, the best method for handling domestic violence, the criminalization of domestic violence, the endorsement of treatment of domestic violence, and the most helpful agencies in responding to cases of domestic violence.