Coauthors Andrew Klein, an expert on the study of domestic violence, and Jessica Klein, a rape crisis counselor and victim advocate, provide a meticulous study of the domestic violence epidemic in America. The premise is that the safety of victims requires a more engaged and competent criminal justice system. Rich with statistics, state court cases, and a historical analysis of legislation, their thorough investigation argues that the police, prosecutors, and courts are not doing enough to protect victims. To support this claim, they assert that while victims are reaching out more than ever, they are met with inadequate services. The authors explain that although some states have made legislative progress, others are simply backtracking and thus encouraging abusers to remain destructive. Even with legislative progress, there is still a lack of commitment and competence by criminal justice practitioners to implement these statutes. The takeaway is that making perpetrators accountable for their actions is what works. The authors show how this is being done and offer recommendations as to how it can be put into practice elsewhere. VERDICT A solid choice for law students and researchers in the social sciences seeking a national evaluation of legislation on domestic violence issues and strategies for change.

Library Journal

The Kleins, experts and advocates about domestic violence, address the failure of the criminal justice system to adequately confront domestic abuse. They note substantial progress in the reform of the system of laws that govern behavior, but progress in the effective use of these laws has been inconsistent and ineffective in most jurisdictions. The system of plea bargaining coupled with a continued tendency to perceive domestic violence as less ‘violent’ than non-domestic violence results in minimal punishments in cases of domestic abuse. The authors note that jurisdictions that have committed to the control of domestic abuse have developed effective programs. That is, the means and knowledge to control domestic abuse are usually present, but not applied. The Kleins are recognized as leading experts in this field, bringing a combined academic and practical approach to the assessment of the problem and to their recommendations for expansion of effective programs to other jurisdictions. The book is well written with effective use of case histories and is adequately referenced and indexed. For libraries serving practitioners or academic departments of criminal justice, political science, psychology, sociology, or social work. Summing Up:Recommended. All academic levels/libraries, as well as professionals in the field.

Choice Reviews

Andy Klein is one of the great pioneers in the field of domestic violence. His extensive leadership experience in bringing about major reform in the criminal justice system’s response to victims of domestic violence, coupled with his record of conducting highly regarded nationwide studies on practices in a diverse range of jurisdictions, brings a much needed perspective to what we know about domestic violence nationwide. Jessica Klein brings her vast knowledge of developing trends in the field. Together, the authors are able to not only tell us about past practices, new mandates and current best practices, but they also are able to show us the inherent limitations in bringing about change. They explain how and why current practices still often differ among jurisdictions as well as differ from what is required. At the same time, this book offers hope and shows how far we have come in effecting positive changes as the result of dedicated and committed policy makers, practitioners, and researchers.

Eve S. Buzawa, Phd, Director/Chair of School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Abetting Batterers,by Andrew and Jessica Klein, is a must read for every judge, prosecutor, law enforcement officer and community advocate committed to protecting victims of domestic abuse. It is the most thoroughly researched, well written treatise on the Criminal Justice System’s struggle to curb the violence and provides a long awaited mirror for every such program to hold itself up to if it is to fortify its efforts to succeed.

Hon. Albert L. Kramer, former Massachusetts Judge; pioneered the nation's first domestic violence court in 1985 whose innovations served as a model for the Violence Against Women Act