Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence Victims

An Integrated Approach to Their Hunger for Healing

By (author) Marilyn Fernandez

Publication date:

02 June 2010

Length of book:

206 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

242x163mm
6x10"

ISBN-13: 9780739115534

Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence Victims uses a rich and detailed set of interviews and complementary survey data to make a strong case for introducing restorative justice principles into the existing menu of services for victims of domestic violence. Guided primarily by concerns of victim safety, domestic violence theorists and practitioners have been wary of introducing restorative justice principled programs in the domestic violence arena. While remaining cognizant of safety concerns, Marilyn Fernandez weaves together the theories, concepts, and research in the restorative justice and domestic violence traditions and uses the voices of domestic violence victims to make a case for restorative justice programs. In the process, Fernandez helps readers, academicians, students, and practitioners, understand the complex nature of domestic violence and the lives of its victims.

Chapter 1. Hunger for Healing — Is There a Role for Introducing Restorative Justice Principles in Domestic Violence Services?
Chapter 2. From Domestic Violence to Restorative Justice in Domestic ViolenceServices: Methodologies and Analyses Plans
Chapter 3. Portrait of the Battered Women - Potential for Restorative Justice Intervention
Chapter 4. Power & Control Dynamics in the Batterer-Battered Relationships
Chapter 5. Help Seeking Patterns: Are Women Victims or Survivors?
Chapter 6. How Well do Extant Domestic Violence Services Serve Survivors? Some Restorative Justice Implications
Chapter 7. A Hunger for Healing and Closure: A Case for Restorative Justice Approaches in Domestic Violence Services
Chapter 8 Appendix #1 Interview Schedule for the Qualitative Interviews
Chapter 9 Appendix #2 Survey Instrument for the Domestic Violence Service Utilization Survey

Marilyn Fernandez does an exceptionally good job of navigating the very controversial landscape of the interface between restorative justice and family violence. Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence Victims: A Supplemental Approach to Their Hunger for Healing is very timely and compelling, particularly since it represents an empirical approach to the topic that is grounded in the actual stories of a diverse range of survivors. Fernandez is appropriately cautious and offers very clear guidelines that outline core principles that cannot be compromised in a restorative justice based domestic violence program. Neither a quick fix nor a one-size-fits-all approach is put forth. Rather, a range of options that can supplement the court process and support survivor's hunger for healing is offered. This is a must read for all in the restorative justice and domestic violence fields.