Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence and the Legal System: Moving Towards Statutory Reform

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Author
Pugh, Frances Marie
Subject
Washington and Lee University, Shepherd Poverty Program
Family violence
Child welfare
Child abuse -- Law and legislation
Law reform
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Capstone; [FULL-TEXT FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE] Frances Marie Pugh is a member of the Class of 2020 of Washington and Lee University. Through this analysis, I seek to examine past and current efforts at statutory reform that characterize children's exposure to domestic violence as a form of child abuse or neglect. This may take the form of expanding a codified definition of child maltreatment, or simply informal policies and practices of an agency. I evaluate the soundness of these various child protection strategies from theoretical and practical standpoints, culminating in a recommendation of the policy initiatives that are most likely to achieve the stated goals while minimizing unintended negative consequences. [From Introduction]