Judicial system

In Florida, a husband slammed his young wife's head, while she held their baby son, across the kitchen floor, saying he could kill her. Someone called the police. Later the wife wanted charges dropped. The judge read aloud a graphic police report. He asked the woman to reconsider, stressing the severity of the attack. He urged the husband to enroll in a batterers' program. The husband refused and walked away in absolute denial. The judge said there was little he could do.
The whole area of family violence has been troublesome for courts. Cases have not been well handled. Education courses on domestic violence must be required for judges hearing civil or criminal aspects of these cases in order to provide effective intervention and to prevent further injury to victims and other family members. Ideally, an accelerated domestic violence court reduces long trial delays, effectively addresses the underlying causes of domestic violence, ensures rapid court intervention, and improves defendant accountability, punishment, and rehabilitation, while offering victims greater safety options and direction to support services.