%0 Journal Article
%T The importance of understanding the victims¡¯ ¡®reality¡¯ of domestic violence
%A Lorana Bartels
%A Patricia Easteal
%A Reeva Mittal
%J Alternative Law Journal
%@ 2398-9084
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1037969X18790040
%X We argue that unconscious assumptions may filter out the diverse ¡®realities¡¯ of domestic violence victims. Despite legal and policy reform, it seems that these biases may continue to affect how relevant legislation is applied and interpreted. We examine a small sample of sentencing remarks in recent Queensland domestic violence order breach cases to illustrate the importance of judicial officers¡¯ awareness of the seriousness and harm of psychological or mental abuses ¨C the victims¡¯ ¡®reality¡¯ of domestic violence. We conclude that sentencing for domestic violence offences and breaches of protection orders needs to be underpinned by knowledge of the long-term effects of emotional abuse
%K Access to the law
%K domestic violence
%K family violence
%K feminism
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1037969X18790040