This article explores the impact of a court-based advocacy service on the prosecution of domestic violence offences. The research, conducted as part of a PhD thesis, evaluated a team of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) based within a Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC). The author adopted the methodology of Realistic Evaluation in order to understand first, any impact of the court-based IDVA service on court outcomes, second, how any such outcomes were achieved and, finally, in what contexts they occurred. As this article explores, effective victim advocacy has the potential to impact positively on the prosecution of domestic violence offences.
BurtonM (2006) Judicial monitoring of compliance: Introducing ‘problem solving’ approaches to domestic violence courts in England and Wales. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family20: 366–378.
3.
BurtonMRogersESandersA (2006) Implementing special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses: The problem of identification. Criminal Law Review5: 229–240.
CookDBurtonMRobinsonA, et al. (2004) Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems. London: Home Office.
6.
CoyMKellyL (2010) Islands in the Stream: An Evaluation of Four London Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Schemes. London: The Henry Smith Charity, Trust for London and London Metropolitan University.
CretneyADavisG (1996) Prosecuting domestic assault. Criminal Law ReviewMarch: 163–174.
12.
CretneyADavisG (1997a) The significance of compellability in the prosecution of domestic assault. British Journal of Criminology37(1): 75–89.
13.
CretneyADavisG (1997b) Prosecuting domestic assault: Victims failing courts, or courts failing victims. The Howard Journal36(2): 146–157.
14.
DawsonMDinovitzerR (2001) Victim cooperation and the prosecution of domestic violence in a specialized court. Justice Quarterly18(3): 593–622.
15.
DobashRDobashR (1979) Violence against Wives: A Case against the Patriarchy. London: Open Books.
16.
EdwardsSM (1986) Police attitudes and dispositions in domestic disputes: The London Study. The Police Journal59(3): 230–241.
17.
EdwardsSM (1991) Policing Domestic Violence: Women, the Law and the State. London: SAGE.
18.
EleyS (2005) Changing practices: The specialised domestic violence court process. The Howard Journal44(2): 113–124.
19.
FaragherT (1985) The police response to domestic violence against women in the home. In: PahlJ (ed.) Private Violence and Public Policy: The Needs of Battered Women and the Response of the Public Services. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 110–124.
20.
FordDA (2003) Coercing victim participation in domestic violence prosecutions. Journal of Interpersonal Violence18(6): 669–684.
21.
GoverAMacdonaldJAlpertG (2003) Combating domestic violence: Findings from an evaluation of a local domestic violence court. Criminology and Public Policy3(1): 109–132.
22.
Home Office (2005) Domestic violence: A national report. London: Home Office.
23.
Home Office (2006) Specialist Domestic Violence Court Programme Resource Manual. London: Home Office.
HowarthEStimpsonLBarranD (2009) Safety in Numbers: A Multi-Site Evaluation of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Services. London: The Hestia Fund and The Henry Smith Charity.
27.
HucklesbyAWorrallJ (2007) The voluntary sector and prisoners’ resettlement. In: HucklesbyAHagley-DickinsonL (eds) Prisoner Resettlement: Policy and Practice. Devon: Willan, 174–198.
PlotnikoffJWoolfsonR (2005) Review of the effectiveness of specialist courts in other jurisdictions. Department for Constitutional Affairs, Research Series 3/05.
30.
RobinsonA (2009) Independent domestic violence advisers: A multisite process evaluation. London: Home Office.
31.
RobinsonACookD (2006) Understanding victim retraction in cases of domestic violence: Specialist courts, government police, and victim-centred justice. Contemporary Justice Review9(2): 189–213.
VallelyCRobinsonABurtonM, et al. (2005) Evaluation of domestic violence pilot sites at Caerphilly (Gwent) and Croydon 2004/5. Final report. London: CPS.
