"Police response to domestic violence incidents has continued to change and expand in the past several decades. Although domestic violence was originally considered a private matter not warranting police intervention, it now represents one of the most common calls for service received by police agencies. While police intervention in domestic violence incidents has improved substantially, response to children present remains an undeveloped area of research and practice. The present study examined 345 police reports from an agency in the Northwest in order to explore police response to domestic violence incidents and specifically their response to children. Similar to results from previous research, the present study found that children were present in 47% of domestic violence incidents. The majority (57.7%) of children present were under the age of six and at least one child was directly exposed to the altercation in 68.1% of incidents in which the level of exposure was indicated. Although Idaho utilizes an enhanced charge for domestic violence incidents that take place in the presence of a child, it was not always utilized in cases that met the criteria. Police response in the form of referral for services, contacting victim-witness coordinator, or other intervention was also rarely provided. Results from logistic regression analysis suggest that child presence is a statistically significant predictor of police response, follow-up, and arrest, although in differing directions. While child presence increased the probability of police response and follow-up, it decreased the likelihood of arrest. In fact, the most significant predictor of arrest was sex of the offender, with likelihood of arrest increasing by 221% when the offender was female. The study concludes that police response to children present at domestic violence incidents is minimal and additional training regarding resources available, influence of domestic violence on children, and methods for properly identifying the primary aggressor are warranted."--Boise State University ScholarWorks.

This timely, much-needed resource identifies gaps in our understanding of the effects of exposure to violence on children -- and sets a direction for future research to support interventions and violence prevention.;

The Oxford Handbook of Children and the Law presents cutting-edge scholarship on a broad range of topics covering the life course of humans from before birth to adulthood, by leading scholars in law, medicine, social work, sociology, education, and philosophy, and by practitioners in law and medicine. An international collection of authors presents and analyzes the law and science pertaining to reproduction; prenatal life (including fetal exposure to toxic substances and abortion); parentage (including biology-based rights, background checks on birth parents, adoption, the status of gamete donors, and surrogacy); infant development and vulnerability; child maltreatment (including corporal punishment and religious defences to abuse and neglect); child protection policy and systems; foster care; child custody disputes between parents or between parents and other caregivers; schooling (including financing, resegregation, religious expression in public schools, at-risk students, special education, regulation of private schools, and homeschooling); delinquency; minimum-age laws; and child advocacy. Most chapters follow a format wherein they first describe the most debated or dynamic issues in each topical area, then explain in depth the law and/or science pertaining to the author's particular focus, and finally offer arguments and recommendations as to law and policy in that area. The normative component aims to advance discussions and debates in vital areas of contemporary child welfare law and policy. The Handbook is an essential resource for scholars and professionals interested in the intersection of children and the law.

Many of our children live in communities where violence, fear, and despair are commonplace. This book describes how one city developed a collaborative effort between law-enforcement and mental health professionals in order to help these children and their families. The Child Development-Community Policing Program in New Haven, Connecticut, was initiated in 1991 to deal more effectively with children who are victims or perpetrators of violence. Police officers, preparing for the new responsibilities of community-based policing, have become familiar with an array of strategies for preventing and responding to community violence. Mental health professionals have learned firsthand about the texture and trauma of the lives of children at risk. Police and mental health professionals working together have been able to mobilize treatment services more quickly and effectively and to assure that treatment plans are carried out. This manual provides a model, case studies, and guidelines for training the participants, operating a consultation service, and evaluating the program on an ongoing basis, all of which will be useful for other communities seeking to implement a similar project.

Juvenile Delinquency in a Diverse Society presents a fresh, critical examination of juvenile delinquency in the context of real communities and social policies— addressing many social factors that shape juvenile delinquency and its control, including race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. Authors Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan use true stories and contemporary examples to link theories of delinquency to current public policies and to existing community programs, encouraging readers to consider how theories of delinquency can be used to create new policies and programs in their own communities. The Third Edition includes a new chapter on policing and juveniles, updated scholarship that strengthens the integration of both classic and cutting-edge research, and updates to the book’s supportive pedagogical features to reflect current events and the experiences of diverse populations of youth. Included with this title: The password-protected Instructor Resource Site (formally known as SAGE Edge) offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.