Intimate Partner Violence
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SYLLABUS
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Department of Criminal Justice
Intimate Partner Violence
44.622.201
Fall, 2005


COURSE INFORMATION

Meeting Time and Place
Wednesday 4:30 p.m. - 6:50 p.m.
Mahoney 101

Course Description
This course provides students with an in-depth examination of the dynamics of, and the legal, medical, and social service responses to, the phenomenon of intimate partner violence. While the topics of child abuse, sibling abuse, and elder abuse will be considered, the primary emphasis in this course will be on intimate partner violence.

Prerequisites for Course
None, though an undergraduate course in domestic violence is helpful.

Students for whom Course is Intended
Criminal Justice majors and others interested in in-depth investigation of intimate partner violence


INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor
David Hirschel, Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice

Instructor Availability
Office Hours: Monday 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
                     Wednesday 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
If necessary, an appointment may be scheduled at another time.

Office Location and Telephone Number
Mahoney Hall, Room 204B
Phone #: 978.934.4279

E-Mail Address
david_hirschel@uml.edu


COURSE PURPOSE AND GOALS

Course Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to have students critically examine the dynamics of, and the legal, medical, and social service responses to, the phenomenon of intimate partner violence.

Course Goals
This course is designed to have students critically assess the salient issues and existing research on:
  1. the nature and extent of intimate partner violence;
  2. the dynamics and risk factors of intimate partner violence;
  3. the consequences of intimate partner violence;
  4. the legal response to intimate partner violence;
  5. the medical role in intimate partner violence;
  6. victim assistance programs;
  7. batterer treatment programs; and,
  8. the prevention of intimate partner violence.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Overall Requirements
The overall course requirements consist of two take home examinations, a term paper, and class participation.

Teaching Methods:
Instruction will involve a mixture of lecture and seminar style question and answer. Students are expected to have read the assigned weekly readings and to contribute meaningfully to class discussions. To promote direct interaction and a healthy cooperative learning spirit among students, there will also be some group work.

Attendance:
Attendance at class meetings is required and will be included as part of the participation grade.

Texts:

Reading Assignments:
The following is the schedule of topics that will be covered and the accompanying required readings from the textbooks. A number of additional required readings will be placed on reserve in the library or given as handouts. These additional readings will be announced as the course progresses. Note that this planned schedule is subject to change.

Week of Topic Readings
9/5 Introduction to Intimate Partner Violence. None
9/12 Nature of Intimate Partner Violence. B & B 1-9; E. 1-30, 52-55; H. 1-11.
9/19 Extent of Intimate Partner Violence. E. 57-85, 113-128; H. 12-26, 77-93.
9/26 Explaining Intimate Partner Violence. E. 129-146; H. 94-103.
10/3 Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence. E. 86-102; H. 16-17, 37, 85-88.
10/10 No Class: Wednesday is Monday Schedule. none
10/17 The Law and Intimate Partner Violence.
Midterm Due Wednesday October 19th.		 B & B 57-68; H. 104-108, 120-125
10/24 The Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence. B & B 71-107: E. 197-225; H 27-48, 109-119.
10/31 The Role of Arrest. B & B 125-141; H. 126-161.
11/7 The Prosecution and Court Processing of Intimate Partner Violence B & B 177-211; E. 319-326; H. 49-76.
11/14 Protective Orders and Victim Assistance. B & B 233-245; H. 162-198
11/21 The Medical Response H. 199-217.
11/28 Batterer Treatment Programs H. 218-241.
12/5 Coordinated Community Responses H. 242-252.
12/12 Preventing Intimate Partner Violence E. 327-348; H. 253-269.


Test Dates:
     Midterm: Due Wednesday, October 19th.
     Final: To be Announced.

Term Paper
     Outline of Proposal Due: Wednesday, September 28th.

     Completed Paper Due: Wednesday November 23rd.


GRADING PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

Overall Grading Structure
Course requirements will consist of two take home open book examinations and a term paper. The first examination will count for 25%, and the second examination for 30%, of the final grade. The term paper will count for 30%. The final 15% of the grade will be earned through class participation.

Grading will be on the following scale: 96 - 100 = A+; 92 - 95 = A; 89 - 91 = A-; 86 - 88 = B+; 82 - 85 = B; 79 - 81 = B-; 76 - 78 = C+; 72 - 75 = C; 69 - 71 + C-; less than 69 = F.

Academic Integrity:
Academic evaluations in this course include a judgment that the student's work is free from academic dishonesty of any type, and grades in this course therefore should be, and will be, adversely affected by academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty.

Examinations
The instructor will present the class, at least two weeks before the due date, with the questions for the examinations. Detailed responses, incorporating both class materials and assigned readings, will be expected. It is essential that all allegations of fact be supported by references to the appropriate profession-al literature. Late submission of an examination will result in a reduced grade.

Make-up Examinations and Incompletes
Make?up examinations will be administered only to those students who submit, in writing, a clear and convincing medical or personal excuse. Notification of a problem must be given, at the latest, on the day of the scheduled examination. A message may be left on the instructor's answering machine at 934-4279 or sent by email to david_hirschel@uml.edu Incompletes will not be given unless the student has missed the final for medical or personal reasons that are fully acceptable to the instructor.

Term Paper
The paper will take the form of a written in-depth examination of a topic agreed upon by the instructor and the student. While the paper may simply involve traditional library research on a topic relating to intimate partner violence, it may also focus on the work of a particular agency or organization that deals with intimate partner violence. A statement of the proposed topic is due on Wednesday, September 28th. The completed paper, which should be between 12 and 20 pages in length, is due on Wednesday November 23rd.


RESOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

Resources:
The instructor will be available for assistance during the semester. Be sure to let me know of any difficulties you may be encountering.

Bibliography:
Useful reference materials are available both in the traditional paper format and on the web.

Particularly useful journals include:
     Crime and Delinquency
     Criminology
     Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
     Journal of Intimate Partner Violence
     Journal of Marriage and the Family
     Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency
     Journal of Interpersonal Violence
     Justice Quarterly
     Violence and Victims
     Violence against Women


Particularly useful websites include:

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