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Domestic Violence, Child Welfare, and Law Enforcement

Resources address how law enforcement, child welfare systems, and domestic violence advocates collaborate to respond effectively to the needs of children, youth, and families exposed to domestic violence.

Police in the Lives of Young Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (PDF - 1160 KB) Berkman & Esserman (2004) In Early Childhood, Domestic Violence, and Poverty: Helping Young Children and Their Families Focuses on strategies for police departments to respond effectively to the needs of children and families, including guidelines to promote increased safety, security, and support for children's development and recommendations for police policy with regard to young children. Children Exposed to Violence: A Handbook for Police Trainers to Increase Understanding and Improve Community Responses (PDF - 323 KB) Baker, Jaffe, Berkowitz, & Berkman (2002) Offers a four-module curriculum to educate police officers about the dynamics of domestic violence, the impact of spouse abuse on children and adolescents, and considerations for police action.

Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence: A Guide to Research and Resources (PDF - 1760 KB)
Summers (2006)
Addresses the impact of domestic violence on children and collaborative child protection, law enforcement, and legal system responses to children exposed to domestic violence.

A Handbook for Police Responding to Domestic Violence: Promoting Safer Communities by Integrating Research and Practice
Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System (2004)
Presents police officers with information on the impact of domestic violence on children and adolescents and the benefits of collaboration and coordinated community responses when children are affected by violence.

Helping Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships: Final Report to the National Institute of Justice (PDF - 287 KB)
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law & San Diego Association of Governments (2001)
Reveals current practices and develops detailed case studies of promising community-oriented policing approaches to help children exposed to domestic violence.

Police in the Lives of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Collaborative Approaches to Intervention
Berkman, Casey, Berkowitz, & Marans (2004)
In Protecting Children From Domestic Violence: Strategies for Community Intervention
View Abstract
Describes the Child Development Community Policing Program developed in New Haven, Connecticut, to promote collaboration among the police department, domestic violence advocates, mental health providers, juvenile justice professionals, and child protective service workers.

Updated on March 1, 2010