Carolyn Copps Hartley

The Co-occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence: Examining Both Neglect and Child Physical Abuse

Research supports a substantial overlap between domestic violence and child maltreatment. However, few studies examine the characteristics of families in which both domestic violence and child maltreatment are present, with most studies exploring only child physical abuse. This study examined differences in demographic characteristics, parental problems, and maltreatment characteristics for families involving physical abuse or neglect and woman battering compared to families with the same type of maltreatment but no known woman battering present. Descriptive analyses found more differences between families with domestic violence and neglect and neglect-only than between co-occurring physical abuse and physical abuse-only families. Analyses looking at the association or interaction between the type of maltreatment and presence of domestic violence found a significant association between marital status, fathers biological relationship to the child, mother-as-perpetrator, and age of the children with co-occurrence of domestic violence for neglect but not for physical abuse.

How Incest Offenders Overcome Internal Inhibitions Through the Use of Cognitions and Cognitive Distortions

This study explored the victimization process of incestuous child sexual abuse, focusing specifically on the cognitions incest offenders use to overcome their initial inhibitions against offending and to maintain their offending behavior once begun. The research design was a qualitative, grounded theory approach, involving a series of three intensive, in-person interviews with eight Caucasian, male incest offenders currently in treatment for a sexual offense. All the offenders abused a biological, step-, or adoptive daughter. The cognitions identified are grouped into four separate categories: (1) cognitions related to sociocultural factors; (2) cognitions used to overcome the fear of disclosure; (3) cognitions used to diminish responsibility; and (4) cognitions related to permission seeking. Findings are discussed within the context of new theory on the role of cognitions in sexual offending.

A Therapeutic Jurisprudence Approach to the Trial Process in Domestic Violence Felony Trials

This article presents a therapeutic jurisprudence approach to the prosecution of domestic violence–related felony trials. After demonstrating how the current trial process has antitherapeutic effects on victims, the article sets forth a series of recommendations for prosecutors in using a client-centered model during the trial process. These recommendations include the following: anticipating defenses in domestic violence cases, having positive pre-trial interactions with victims to empower them through the process, using pretrial motions to limit negative victim character evidence and introduce evidence about the defendant’s prior abuse, and the importance of allowing victims to contextualize the violence in their testimony during trial.

“He Said, She Said” The Defense Attack of Credibility in Domestic Violence Felony Trials

Little empirical research has been done on the trial process in domestic violence-related cases. This study represents the first in-depth analysis of this trial process, focusing specifically on the defense themes and strategies used in domestic violence felong trials to challenge the credibility of the prosecutions case. Many of the strategies used by the defense manipulate common myths and misperceptions about the dynamics of domestic abuse. Implications for juror decision making and the use of expert witnesses in these trials are discussed. These defense tactics may also serve as a secondary victimization of abused women.

Civil Legal Services and Domestic Violence: Missed Service Opportunities

Domestic violence can have a negative effect on multiple areas of a womans life. While much focus has been on criminal legal interventions for domestic violence, civil legal services can provide a unique constellation of responses to the needs of women who experience domestic violence, which may be unfamiliar to many social workers. Civil legal services can greatly improve a womans circumstances when targeting material needs such as housing, employment, and economic conditions. This article describes the differences in focus and impact of criminal and civil legal interventions for domestic violence, provides an in-depth illustration of how civil legal services can address a myriad of needs for women who experience domestic violence, and addresses the role social workers can play in assisting clients in the civil legal process.

Psychological Well-Being Among Women Who Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Received Civil Legal Services:

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is often associated with negative mental health outcomes; yet, little is known about the psychological well-being of women who experience IPV and receive civil legal services. Civil legal services are not specifically designed to focus on womens mental health needs but Sullivans Social and Emotional Well-Being Framework helps to explain why women receiving this type of formal assistance may demonstrate positive changes in psychological well-being. Using a panel study design and data from 85 women who experienced IPV and sought civil legal services, we examined womens psychological well-being over a one-year period of time. Approximately two thirds of the women received assistance from Iowa Legal Aid (ILA) for a civil protective order ( n = 56) and the rest were represented in a family law matter. We used measures of mental health (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and well-being (social support, resilience, goal directed thinking, empowerment). Our hypotheses that women would experience a decrease in mental health symptoms and an increase in well-being were partially supported. Women reported a decrease in depressive and PTSD symptoms over one year but there were no changes in their goal-oriented thinking or resilience. Implications for practice and future research are included.

Economic Self-Sufficiency among Women Who Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Received Civil Legal Services

Literature supports the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women’s short and long-term material hardship; yet, little research has examined the role of civil legal services in addressing women’s economic self-sufficiency. Using survey data from a sample of low-income women seeking civil legal services related to IPV, we examined changes in women’s economic self-sufficiency over a one-year period of time. The sample consisted of women who were experiencing IPV and receiving assistance with a civil protective order (CPO) or a family law problem. Eighty-five women completed three waves of data collected, baseline and every six months, over a period of one year. Nearly two-thirds of the women received assistance for a CPO (n = 56); the rest were represented in a family law matter. Approximately 45% of women lived in non-metro/rural areas (n = 38). Measures of economic self-sufficiency included income, use of public assistance, adequacy of family resources, and perceptions of the difficulty living off their current income. Women’s monthly income and adequacy of some family resources increased, while difficulty living on their current income and the number of assistance resources used decreased (Wave 1 to 3). There was no relation between the type or amount of legal services received and changes in study outcomes. Study findings suggest that civil legal services are a critical component of a community coordinated response to IPV.