Type:	Journal Article
Title:	An examination of the effectiveness of domestic violence coordinating councils
Other Titles:	Violence against women
Authors:	Allen, Nicole E
Keywords:	Policy;Interagency work;Community attitudes
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	12 (1), January 2006
Notes:	Motivated by the traditional problem of lack of coordination amongst stakeholders interested in domestic violence, the author reports the findings of a study into the extent to which coordinating councils are effective in achieving a comprehensive response to the problem. The author also investigates the factors that contribute to achieving a comprehensive response. The study used a sample of 41 out of the 44 coordinating councils in a midwestern US state, interviewing key informants and surveying members by mail. The results reflected that coordinating councils were most likely to address reforms in the criminal justice system such as access to protection orders and arrest practices, less likely to look at prosecution practices and court process, and even less likely to investigate factors beyond the criminal justice system. This is at odds with data on what survivors need most – often this involves responses outside of the criminal justice system. The presence of a shared mission amongst members was found to be an important factor in achieving goals outside of the legal system whereas the presence of a shared power within the group was more relevant in implementing criminal justice reforms. Leadership was also found to be an important factor and if it was strong in a council, then the significance of the former two factors was diminished. Finally the disparity between official membership and active participation was a measure of the likelihood of council success. The more breadth of active participation in a council, the more likely it was to be effective.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13384
ISSN:	1077-8012
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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