U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Prosecution Strategies in Domestic Violence Felonies: An Exploratory Study
NCJ Number
              194064

Author(s)
          Roxann M. Ryan
Date Published

August 1998
Length
              732 pages
Annotation
              This qualitative content analysis of 50,000 pages of transcript from 41 felony trials examined prosecution strategies in domestic violence cases.
Abstract
              All trials occurred in Iowa between 1989 and 1995; they all resulted in convictions, almost one-third of which were for lesser offenses than originally charged. The primary hypothesis of the study was that criminal justice decision makers can make better decisions when they understand the context of the violent relationship. Trial transcripts were coded and analyzed for prosecution themes, defense themes, "story-telling" techniques, evidentiary and procedural issues, and evidence of prior violence or dynamics of abuse. Many cases included evidence of defendants' "other acts" (prior violence or previous convictions). In many cases, the defense attempted to disparage the victim's character (drug use, lifestyle choices, sexual history, or truthfulness). Two cases involved expert testimony about the dynamics of abuse in a violent relationship, so as to explain victim actions that did not seem typical for someone who had been repeatedly physically abused. Based on the story model of juror decision making, the cases suggest that an understanding of the dynamics of abuse can affect decisions the jury made; success, however, may depend on the quality of the "storytelling." In cases that resulted in convictions on lesser offenses, prosecutors did not tell the "story of violence" as quickly, concisely, and graphically as the prosecutors in cases that yielded convictions on original charges. This was true regardless of the evidence used to show the dynamics of abuse or any prior violence by the defendant against the victim or others, and regardless of attempts by the defense to exploit myths about domestic violence. Further research is recommended to test the hypothesis. 13 tables, 265 references, and appended Iowa prosecution protocol
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        95-WT-NX-0003


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: August 1, 1998
    
          Downloads
        
                      *No download available*

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR02811
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Court Procedures
        Defense
        Domestic assault
        Expert Witnesses
        Jury decision making



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Analysis of Desomorphine in Urine Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
                  A Low-Cost, Simplified Platform of Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for Rapid, Forensic Evidence Screening on Portable Mass Spectrometric Instrumentation
                  An Admixture Approach to Trihybrid Ancestry Variation in the Philippines With Implications for Forensic Anthropology
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov