Caught in the cross-fire: exploring the relationship between the impact on children of witnessing domestic violence and violent youth offending

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the impact of domestic violence on children, and its relationship to violent youth crime. The intention is to indicate how the findings may affect social work practice. There has been a great deal of change in this field in recent years and it is therefore an appropriate time to embark on this study. With the passing of the Domestic Violence Act 1995, children who witness violence in their families are now clearly recognised as being harmed by the experience. A small but growing body of research provides some knowledge of the effects on children who witness violence in their homes. Recent research has begun to link the problem of youth crime with the effects of the violent home environment. The issue of children living with domestic violence is only now coming to be recognised as a matter of concern in its own right. The reactions of children who have witnessed violent assaults on their mothers, whether or not the children themselves have been abused, require acknowledgment and understanding. There are implications for social service providers particularly in the area of care and protection, youth justice, policing and education as well as health care workers, and refuge workers. Attention to children's needs through all social services agencies is an increasingly important priority. This thesis draws from my experience of social work practice, face-to-face interviews with professionals from education, police, youth justice, care and protection, and women who have been victims of domestic violence. This study provides a set of perspectives from groups of people who have evidence of the link between the impact of domestic violence and youth crime, but who are seldom consulted. The information gained will assist service providers identify children at risk of offending and give policy makers a better understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and its effect on children and young people who offend.