Law Commons^™

A Model State Act: Remedies For Domestic Abuse, Lisa G. Lerman

Scholarly Articles

The problem of domestic violence has been the subject of increasing national concern. In response to that concern, states have enacted legislation providing protection to victims of domestic violence, encouraging improved police enforcement of protection law's, and constructing appropriate legal sanctions against abusers. Drafting comprehensive legislation to address this problem is difficult because both civil and criminal remedies are needed, because the needs of battered women are diverse and complex, and because effective protection requires a coordinated response by courts, law enforcement agencies, mental health personnel, and the bar. While some new legislation on wife abuse has been enacted in …

Mediation Of Wife Abuse Cases: The Adverse Impact Of Informal Dispute Resolution On Women, Lisa G. Lerman

Scholarly Articles

This Article articulates a law enforcement critique of domestic violence mediation. It will explain the feminist view that mediation in abuse cases is based on misconceptions about the nature of wife abuse, and that mediation not only fails to protect women from subsequent violence, but also perpetuates their continued victimization.

The Article will recommend that other remedies be preferred over mediation. Recognizing that many programs will persist in mediation of wife abuse cases, however, the Article recommends that those programs should adopt procedures which will offer protection to victims of abuse, will make clear to the abuser that stopping the …