A Tribute to Susan Schechter
The Visions and Stuggles of the Battered Women's Movement
View Website » http://www.ncdsv.org/images/Tribute%20to%20Susan%20Schechter.pdf

Assisting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence
Advocate's Guide
BWJP
This guide for advocates and volunteers focuses on the needs of newly-arrived battered immigrant women whose immigration status is unsettled. It explores: how to more effectively respond to battered immigrant women; how immigration status is used as a weapon in domestic violence cases; the options open to immigrant victims, the documents they need, and when a referral to an immigration attorney should be made.
View Article » Immigrant_Victims_Advocates_Guide.pdf

At A Crossroads
Developing Duluth's Prosecution Response to Battered Women Who Fight Back
Mary Asmus, Chief Prosecutor, City Attorney's Office, Duluth MN
This monograph tells the story of how city prosecutors, battered women's advocates, and other practitioners in Duluth's criminal justice system came together to address the unique issues presented by domestic violence defendants who are also battered women. This monograph also offers a firsthand looks at how institutional change can happen in the criminal justice system.
View Article » At A Crossroads_part1.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part2.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part3.pdf
View Article » At A Crossroads_part4.pdf

Batterer Intervention Services of Michigan
The Batterer Intervention Services of Michigan's website contains useful national information on state standards, etc.
Case Processing of Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases, Year 1
Initial Police Response to Arraignment
Sharonna Lee, Kristine Lizdas, J.D., Connie Sponsler; Editor: Denise Gamache, BWJP
BWJP decided to focus its initial examination on two specific interactions, based on the chronology of case processing and in response to concerns raised by the Family Violence Coordinating Council. BWJP audited the initial police response to domestic violence calls, and the post-arrest process of releasing defendants from custody up to the arraignment. This report addresses law enforcement, bail evaluation and pre-trial release.
View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases.pdf
View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases_Appendix.pdf
View Article » Case_Processing_of_Misdemeanor_DV_Cases_Progress_Report_on_Implementation.pdf

Effective Advocacy on Behalf of Battered Women
by Loretta Frederick
"Advocacy on behalf of battered women whether by an attorney or lay advocate, can take many forms and must be undertaken in a manner responsive to the unique nature of the problem of violence...."
View Article » Effective_Advocacy_Battered_Women.pdf

Effective Interventions in Domestic Violence Cases
Context is Everything
Loretta Frederick, BWJP
In order to ensure that criminal justice system interventions are effective in holding offenders accountable and protecting victims from harm, the context in which each act of domestic violence occurs must be understood.
View Article » Effective_Interventions_Context_is_Everything.pdf

Injustice Defined
Why Battered Women Cannot And Should Not Be Charged With Violating Civil Protection Orders That Were Issued At Their Request
Carolyn Ham
This memo provides advocates and attorneys with arguments against charging and convicting women with the violations of their own civil protection orders.
View Article » Injustice_Defined.pdf

Marital Rape
Kersti Yllo, Ph.D.
In order to fully and adequately respond to men who rape and women who are sexually assaulted, we must focus our attention on forced sex in marriage, not as an additional form of physical battering, but as a significant violation in and of itself, whether accompanied by other violence or not.
View Article » Marital_Rape.pdf

Minnesota's Standards for Batterer's Programs
A Policy Review and Report on Implementation in Hennepin County
Sarah Myott
This report was created as a result of work conducted by the Battered Women's Justice Project and Hennepin County Community Corrections in order to begin work to implement MN Statute 518B.02, which sets minimum standards for batterers' programs used for court-mandated offenders. This report examines the legislation, including its background and context; reports on work done to implement this legislation in Hennepin County, and discusses ideas for policy change and implementation.
View Article » MN_Standards_for_Batterers_Programs.pdf

National Network on Behalf of Battered Immigrant Women
The three offices (web addresses) listed form the National Network on Behalf of Battered Immigrant Women. Each organization can be contacted individually, or the Network can be found at the www.endabuse.org website.
View Website » http://www.endabuse.org/section/programs/immigrant_women
View Website » http://www.legalmomentum.org/our-work/immigrant-women-program/
View Website » http://www.nationalimmigrationproject.org/

Primary Aggressor Chart
Compiled by Sandra Murphy and MaryKathleen Fenske, 2008
This is a 2008 compilation of all state statutes that use “primary” or “predominant” or “principle” aggressor language. Only the portion of the statute that applies to primary aggressor or mutual or dual arrest is cited in this chart.
View Article » Primary_Aggressor_Chart_Final.pdf

Prosecution Diversion in Domestic Violence
Issues and Context
Jane Sadusky
This paper examines the issues surrounding prosecution diversion and the context for reconsidering its role and related cautions in promoting victim safety and offender accountability
View Article » Prosecution_Diversion_DV_Cases.pdf

Reducing Language Barriers To Combating Domestic Violence
The Requirements Of Title VI
Carolyn Ham
In addition to the usual obstacles to leaving a violent relationship, battered immigrant women face a host of additional issues such as fears about being deported, loss of legal immigration status and cultural barriers to leaving their spouses. But perhaps the most daunting barrier can be their inability to speak and read English.
View Article » Reducing_Language_Barriers_to_Combating_Domestic_Violence.pdf

Specialized Criminal Domestic Violence Courts
Julie A. Helling
The National Center for State Courts surveyed courts by mail in 1998 and received approximately 200 responses indicating that the court had some type of specialized procedures for domestic violence cases. This article provides a basic overview of issues involved in the specialization of criminal domestic courts. To provide a framework for the study of these types of courts, this paper profiles the criminal domestic violence courts of Seattle, Washington, Sacramento, California, and Vancouver, Washington. These three courts are representative of four basic models for specialization.
View Article » Specialized_Criminal_DV_Courts_part1.pdf
View Article » Specialized_Criminal_DV_Courts_part2.pdf

The Role of Restorative Justice in the Battered Women's Movement
Loretta Frederick and Kristine Lizdas, BWJP
This article provides a comparison of the principles and practices of the restorative justice and battered women's movements. It provides an analysis and critique of each movement's response to domestic violence, and proposes an interpretation of what is effective, redemptive and liberating about the practices of each. Ultimately the paper provides suggested directions for future work within both fields.
View Article » Role_of_Restorative_Justice_Battered_Women's_Movement.pdf

When the Batterer is a Law Enforcement Officer
A Guide for Advocates
By Diane Wetendorf
This is a comprehensive resource for any advocate working with a survivor of a batterer who is in law enforcement, including information on particular safety considerations and advocacy strategies.
View Article » Batterer_LE_Advocate_Guide2009.pdf

WomensLaw.org
Free access to legal information, including information on restraining orders, custody, divorce, immigration, and tribal law. Also, links to sheriffs' offices, and court forms and instructions on preparing for hearings, etc. All information is state-specific.
View Website » http://www.womenslaw.org/

Working Effectively with the Police
A Guide for Battered Women's Advocates
Jane Sadusky for BWJP
Battered women's advocates and police departments in several jurisdictions have been successful in developing a more effective police response to domestic assault cases. This article highlights information advocates need in order to work collaboratively and effectively with police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The author discusses the changes police officers have made regarding when and how they arrest, investigate, write reports, and how they work with and support prosecutors and victim advocates.
View Article » Working_Effectively_with_Police.pdf