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Abstract: 

This article reflects the landmark contribution to domestic violence scholarship made by Dr. Evan Stark via his formulation of coercive control (CC). Dr. Stark’s coercive control concept captures the multidimensional nature of intimate partner abuse, which more frequently manifests in the form of control, intimidation, and social isolation strategies as opposed to black eyes and bruises (although the latter also are tragically common). Coercive control is now, we are happy to report, considered a crime in the United Kingdom. In this article, Dr. Stark outlines his list of recommendations for the implementation of this new U.K. legislation, which promises to provide far better protection and greater justice for victims of intimate partner violence.

Keywords: Coercive control; structured professional judgment; high-risk case management and policing

Affiliations:  1: Rutgers University.