Between the Expectations about the Penal System and the Issue of Procedures: Reflection on a Study on the Judicial Treatment of Domestic Violence Cases

During the 1970s, violence & other prejudices & injustices to which women were subjected were publicly denounced. Because of the extent of domestic violence & infrequent & inconsistent recourse to the criminal justice system, pressure groups also demanded more systematic prosecution of violence against women, especially violence in a domestic context. Many public policies were developed & implemented to attain this goal. Our article examines the gap between expectations regarding the use of the penal system & the actual treatment reserved for spouses found guilty. We first discuss problems associated with the use of criminalization & then focus on double victimization, low rates of conviction, & sentences imposed. 2 Tables, 54 References. Adapted from the source document.