Family Violence

Catalog description

This course examines the ramifications of family violence as well as the broad issues surrounding domestic violence from an interdisciplinary perspective. Violence against women typologies and theories such as cycle of violence, dominance and control are among the sociological and psychological perspectives covered and crimes such as battering, sexual assault, child abuse, and elder abuse are analyzed in a broad social and political context. The legal perspectives on proactive arrest policies, restraining orders, and anti-stalking legislation that have emerged across the United States also are examined. Special attention is given to how these crimes affect women, men, children, and elders, and how the criminal justice system may better address the needs of victims and offenders. Prerequisite: Crim-101 or permission of the instructor.