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Insidious Witness Intimidation Thwarts DV Prosecutions  


Author:  Teresa M. Garvey, J.D..


Source: Volume 06, Number 04, Spring 2014 , pp.81-93(13)




Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly

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Abstract: 

There are a myriad of ways that an abuser can send messages to his victim—verbal and non-verbal, covert and overt. In some instances, especially when the perpetrator gets arrested and she is called to testify against him, abusers will leave no stone unturned in trying to prevent her from providing testimony. In her incisive article, Teresa Garvey describes these methods and suggests strategies for counteracting witness intimidation attempts. As the author states, “The most dedicated of professionals cannot effectively address the problem of witness intimidation unless they know how and when it is likely to occur, how to recognize it and investigate it, and how to respond in a manner that protects the witness while holding the offender accountable—not only for the original crime, but for the efforts to obstruct justice.”

Keywords: Witness intimidation; threats; physical violence; emotional manipulation

Affiliations:  1: AEquitas.

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