Robert Geffner

Domestic Violence Offenders: Treatment and Intervention Standards

Summary This article introduces the volume and the various issues covered concerning current interventions, research, and standards for offenders arrested for domestic violence. The controversies that have arisen as many jurisdictions in the United States have established mandatory standards for batterer intervention are introduced, including the type of treatment modality and content permitted, the qualifications of those providing the interventions, the duration of treatment, and the relationship of the various standards to actual research. This volume presents articles concerning recent research, innovative as well as non-conventional intervention approaches, and policies that have often been adopted by legislatures. The present article identifies some of the controversial issues and calls into question the appropriateness of some of the statutes that currently exist. Suggestions for a more inclusive and less rigid process are given for creating standards and policies concerning domestic violence offenders.

The Experiences of Adults Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence as Children: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Resilience and Protective Factors

ABSTRACT Research indicates a large percentage of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) experience psychological, social, cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems. These deficits can have overwhelming long-term problems for children. Although there is some evidence of the intergenerational cycle of violence, not all children exposed to IPV encounter abuse in their adult relationships. This study qualitatively explored the protective factors or resiliencies that contribute to adaptive outcomes of adults exposed to IPV as children. Ten major and five minor themes emerged from this analysis. These themes were organized into internal factors/individual characteristics, family factors, and external factors. Implications for practice are also discussed.

An Exploratory Study of Women as Dominant Aggressors of Physical Violence in Their Intimate Relationships

In the last 20 years, research has emerged that suggests that women may be violent in intimate relationships. This article describes a qualitative study focusing on women who were classified as dominant aggressors of violence in their intimate relationships. Ten subjects participated in a detailed clinical interview and completed five written measures to examine the factors that led to their later aggression, including sociocultural factors, history of trauma, gender role identification, and intergenerational transmission of violence. Seven major themes emerged, including a history of victimization and trauma, substance abuse, and a history of violence across relationships and situations. These results suggest that the violence committed by dominantly aggressive women may be explained by an integrated conceptual framework of domestic violence.

Introduction: Assessment and Treatment of Youth Who Sexually Offend: An Overview

SUMMARY This introductory article provides an overview of the significant issues involved when dealing with youth who sexually offend, sometimes referred to as juvenile sex offenders or sexually reactive children or adolescents. There is not an accepted term or definition that is widely used to describe or refer to this population, and the precise prevalence or incidence rates are not known. Statistics are presented from various national studies, but methodological problems in the research are also noted. The authors briefly discuss the current research concerning youth who sexually offend, present some of the important issues in this area of research and practice, and list various types of sexual victimization that have been included when dealing with youth who sexually offend. The article then introduces the current volume, describing the articles and content. Identifying and treating youth who sexually offend is in its infancy in many ways. It is hoped that this volume will provide important information to help those in research and practice better understand the issues and dynamics of this population.

Conducting Child Custody Evaluations in the Context of Family Violence Allegations: Practical Techniques and Suggestions for Ethical Practice

A review of the literature (i.e., Austin, 2001) and the daily practice of conducting child custody evaluations has revealed that there is an inadequacy assessing and incorporating family violence issues, including both partner and child abuse, into the context of a child custody evaluation when such allegations occur. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges has published attempts to address the lack of adequate assessments in family violence cases (e.g., Dalton, Drozd, & Wong, 2006), however more needs to be done. The current article discusses the existing approaches in conducting child custody evaluations when family violence is alleged and provides suggestions and practical techniques for adequately considering these issues in an evaluation. The various assessment and interview techniques that can be utilized in these complex custody evaluations are presented. The techniques discussed should aid child custody evaluators, attorneys, and judges in dealing with these complex cases, such that proper techniques can be followed to arrive at appropriate recommendations. If an evaluator conducts a child custody evaluation in a case where there are allegations of family violence but does not have specific training or expertise in this area, ethical concerns and questions arise.

Forensic, Cultural, and Systems Issues in Child Sexual Abuse Cases—Part 1: An Introduction

This article introduces the first in a two-part special issue focusing on forensic, cultural, and systems issues in child sexual abuse cases. The five articles contained in this issue include a diversity of perspectives on approaches to extended interviews and evaluations of child sexual abuse suspicions, an exploration of the ways culture affects child sexual abuse disclosure and reporting, considerations relevant to the management of a childs mental health needs while forensic process are ongoing, and the use of anatomical dolls in forensic interviews. We call for attention to several practice areas, including (a) prioritizing a childs mental health needs while minimizing disruption of forensic processes, (b) developing best practices and models of child sexual abuse assessment and evaluation when a one-session forensic interview is insufficient, (c) appropriately evaluating child sexual abuse concerns when they occur without a disclosure and/or in children with communication limitations, and (d) the integration of cultural sensitivity into interviews and evaluations.

Emerging Issues for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Summary The significant trauma caused by domestic violence has become more widely known in recent years as research and conferences focus on this area. The effect on the children exposed to such situations in their own home is an emerging issue. This article discusses the importance of expanding the research, interventions, and prevention programs concerning children exposed to domestic violence, and emphasizes the need for innovative and updated policies in this field. Current theoretical perspectives, intervention techniques and approaches that appear to be successful in dealing with the issues and trauma, prevention programs that have been implemented in the United States and Canada, and recent legal and policy changes regarding these issues are presented in this book. The present article introduces the issues, and describes the articles in this volume.

The Physiological and Traumatic Effects of Childhood Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACT This study compared the physiological functioning and trauma symptoms of a sample of adult college students who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) as children to a sample physically or sexually abused as children and a sample with no history of abuse. Heart rates, levels of salivary cortisol, and trauma symptoms were measured before a stressor, during a stressor, and after relaxation following the stressor. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that there was a strong relationship between childhood exposure to IPV and the development of diagnosable post-traumatic stress symptoms in adulthood. Those exposed to IPV as children also exhibited increased heart rates. Implications for practice and intervention are discussed.

Adult Sexual Offenders: Current Issues and Future Directions

SUMMARY Sex offender research is still in its infancy, but our knowledge about adult sex offenders has increased in the last several decades. However, public interest in the issues of assessment, treatment, and recidivism with respect to risk and safety has increased substantially during this time. This article provides an introduction to the significant issues involved in the assessment, treatment, and current state-of-the-science for adult sex offenders. Prevalence rates are discussed, but these are more difficult to narrow down due to definitional problems. In addition, controversial issues involving diagnoses, classification, public notification, and risk assessment are introduced, and the goals of this volume are described. The purpose of this volume is to provide current information regarding what is known about sex offenders so that appropriate assessment, treatment, and prevention techniques can be developed and utilized.

Child and Adolescent Trauma across the Spectrum of Experience: Research and Clinical Interventions

This article introduces the first in a two-part special issue focusing on child and adolescent trauma across the spectrum of experience. This issue examines current research and clinical interventions specifically geared toward an array of possible traumatic events in the lives of children and adolescents. We briefly introduce the articles, which address the areas of child sexual abuse, traumatic loss, complex trauma in young children, exposure to severe natural disasters, and refugee youth mental health services. We then highlight factors that need to be accounted for in all interventions for children and adolescents impacted by trauma, including incorporating developmental, cultural, and ecological perspectives into intervention approaches.