Individuals Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence and Their Engagement with the Legal System: Critical Considerations for Agency and Power

Date

2024-01-19

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Cardenas, Iris, Laurie Graham, Marcela Mellinger, and Laura Ting. “Individuals Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence and Their Engagement with the Legal System: Critical Considerations for Agency and Power.” Journal of Health Care Law and Policy 27, no. 1 (January 1, 2024). https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/jhclp/vol27/iss1/7.

Rights

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Abstract

This Article explores the complexities of intimate partner violence (“IPV”) victim-survivors’ engagement with the legal system, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive and trauma-informed legal interventions. It highlights how intersectional identities and systemic factors shape the experience and decisions of a victim-survivor regarding legal involvement. The Article critiques current legal responses to IPV for often exacerbating trauma and undermining victim survivors’ autonomy. It argues for a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the unique needs and challenges faced by diverse victim-survivors and advocates for systemic reforms. The Article underscores the importance of incorporating intersectional and social-ecological perspectives in legal responses, recommending trauma-informed, healing-centered practices and culturally responsive interventions to better support IPV victim-survivors and facilitate their recovery.