EP 10: The Problem with Punishment and IPV

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is still far too common. It's important to end IPV, on that many of us agree. So is punishing people who hurt their intimate partners going to end IPV? What can we do instead?

For our final episode of Season One, we discuss with a number of women working in the movement: Judith Clark at the Survivors Justice Project, Kassiel Gonzalez at VIP Mujeres, Purvi Shah and Darlene Torres.

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Judith Clark discussed her work with the Survivors Justice Project (SVP), including passing the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. To learn more about the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act and if you or a loved one may be eligible, SVP has produced a guide to the law.

Kassiel Gonzalez is the Restorative Justice Program Manager at Violence Intervention Program (VIP Mujeres).  Darlene Torres worked for many years at the Anti-Violence Project (AVP). 

Purvi Shah is a consultant, researcher, storyteller, and founding leader of The Collaborative For Restoring Healing and Transforming Communities. The collaborative includes A Little Piece of Light, AVP, the Arab-American Family Support Center, Black Women’s Blueprint, Center for Justice Innovations Reimagining Intimacy through Social Engagement (RISE) Project, CONNECT NYC, How Our Lives Link Altogether (HOLLA!),  STEPS to End Family Violence at Rising Ground, and VIP. 

Purvi mentions the Seeding Generations report, which she worked on as a consultant to the Interagency Working Group on NYC’s Blueprint for Abusive Partner Intervention (IWG), hosted by the Center for Justice Innovation (also available as a booklet).

For more data on the prevalence of IPV and domestic violence, check out the ENDGBV 2024 Fact Sheet.

Here are some studies proving the efficacy of non-punitive and restorative approaches to IPV:

• Using Restorative Approaches to Address Intimate Partner Violence: A New York City Blueprint

• Evaluation of ACS’ A Safe Way Forward program (expanded in 2022)

• Non-Law Enforcement Restorative Justice Addressing Domestic and Sexual Violence: Evaluation Results from The CHAT Project Pilot

Some resources for survivors:

• In addition to the collaborative members listed above - all of whom provide services or support to survivors - Caminar Latino also hosts violence interruption programs for youth, adult individuals, and families in English and Spanish

• Day One provides support and programming for young people (under 24) experiencing dating abuse and domestic violence

• NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault’s Survivor Resource Guide (English & Spanish)

Transcript:

coming soon