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Sociological Evidence in Abuse Litigation

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Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology

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Abstract

Sociologists can assist attorneys and law firms in various aspects of criminal and civil litigation related to abuse. Social scientists evaluate different types of maltreatment, including child mistreatment (CM), intimate partner violence (IPV), elder abuse (EA), dependent adult abuse (DAB), sibling abuse (SA), and parental abuse (PA). Sociological analysis can clarify different aspects of maltreatment, including risk factors associated with abuse, its impact on social, family, educational, and occupational functioning, and victims’ responses to maltreatment. In this chapter, the author analyzes research in the above areas and discusses several of composite cases to illustrate how sociologists can serve as expert witnesses and consultants in litigation involving abuse.

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  1. California State University, East Bay, CA, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz Ph.D.

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  1. Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, California, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz

  2. College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Mark L. Goldstein

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Morewitz, S.J. (2014). Sociological Evidence in Abuse Litigation. In: Morewitz, S., Goldstein, M. (eds) Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7178-3_26

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