Coercive Control and the Law: Considerations for Work with the Community
Ana Borges Jelinic
This article comes from the perspective of a research-practitioner, and it aims to engage with practice concerns by resourcing psychologists in the field of community psychology on some of the practical considerations when dealing with people or communities affected by domestic and family violence (DFV).
As the legal definition of DFV expands to include an understanding of coercive control, it is important for psychologists to be aware not only of the variations on the application of the term, but also how the public may take up this concept to understand their experiences.
While legal changes can spark interesting and innovative community responses to violence, history in the policing of DFV proves that many times survivors, particularly women, can find themselves in a worse situation with new legislation due to intersecting vulnerabilities and an inbuilt difficulty of law to listen to women’s voices.
Awareness, transparency with clients and communities, and readiness to support communities while considering possibilities of collaboration with the state and services is a requirement in this changing landscape.
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