Gender and Domestic Violence

I applaud and admire John Hamel and Brenda Russell for putting together this book. The book is well-researched with chapters written by highly regarded experts in the field. Although destined to be controversial, it’s long overdue, and provides solid research and recommendations for both criminal justice and family courts for how to best handle domestic violence cases. It takes on the political controversy and provides evidence-based information on how gender is not the determining predictor for who commits domestic violence. It is a must read for all who work in the field of domestic violence and who encounter domestic violence in the criminal courts, family courts, and service professions. * Denise A. Hines, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University *Finally! Perhaps the most comprehensive approach to understanding IPV in terms of policy and practice, this book gathers the work of committed scholars who ignored convention in the face of great opposition and steadfastly pushed for a greater understanding of women’s use of violence. Hamel and Russell’s book shines light in the dark corners where change and progress are desperately needed and represents more than a decade of effort to transform our thinking - and thus our policies, practices, and treatment approaches - resulting in a paradigmatic shift in the conversations around gender and IPV. * Michelle Mohr Carney, PhD, MSSA, Dean & Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas *As a former domestic violence prosecutor, I struggled with the one-size-fits-all approach to IPV. As a current defense attorney, I see the havoc this homogenous mindset causes for the wrongfully accused. With a scientific and fact-driven approach, this volume recognizes and reports the nuances of IPV, and asks questions of our current criminal legal system based on research, not stereotypes or politics. Prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges must wrestle with the evidence presented in this volume or risk being well-intentioned agents of injustice. * Peter Chambers, Esq., Law Office of Peter James Chambers *

Dr. Brenda Russell, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University, Berks. Her interests include psychology and law, perceptions of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, homicide defendants, and the social-psychological aspects of jury decision-making. She has published dozens of scholarly research articles and authored four books. Dr. Russell serves as an expert in criminal domestic violence homicide cases and works as a consultant and program evaluator for federal and state educational, law enforcement, justice, and treatment programs.

John Hamel, PhD, LCSW a graduate of U.C.L.A. and the University of Central Lancashire, has treated family violence victims and perpetrators since 1992, and has provided expert witness consultation and testimony in numerous criminal and family law cases. Dr. Hamel is also a researcher, and the author or editor of several books. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Partner Abuse, and is the founder of the Association of Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (ADVIP).