NJ's Family Lawyer issue on domestic violence, in my opinion, started out strong noting that some of the causes of DV are attributed to economic stress, such as job loss, foreclosures or debt. Then went on to argue for a Final restraining Orders having an expiration date...but then instead on focusing on what can be done to prevent the act of DV or help perpetrators of DV, spent the rest of the issue focused on the many ways perpetrators can be subject to increase penalties.
Seems to me that if we know the cause of DV why are we not focusing on providing services that we know will help perpetrators? We know from years and years of research that increasing the penalties will probably do more harm than good.
This is coming from someone who spent many years either volunteering or representing victims of DV....and after many years finally realizing that a lot of what we do in court was not helping and probably hurting everyone involved...
Angela
Angela Barker
Law Office of Angela Barker, LLC
Tel: (646) 415-8883
(201) 336-0352
Fax: (646) 395-9562