Heavy Hands: An Introduction to the Crimes of Intimate and Family Violence, 5th Edition

For courses in Domestic Violence, Family Violence, Victimology.

The authoritative introduction to family violence issues.

Heavy Hands, Fifth Edition, provides an authentic introduction to the crimes of family violence, covering offenders and offenses, impact on victims, and responses of the criminal justice system. This established text is essential reading for those considering careers in criminal justice, victim advocacy, social work, and counseling. Gosselin draws on extensive field experience and uses real-life examples to provide sharp insight into how and why abuse occurs and its effects on abuse survivors. The text’s accessible language and effective learning tools keep students engaged and motivated, while its practical, real-world focus helps students connect text material to the world around them.

Hallmark Features

Provides a balanced perspective. The text’s unique approach includes both offender and victim perspectives. Gosselin takes a socio-legal approach from the criminal justice perspective, exploring both the social elements surrounding abuse and the responses of the criminal justice system.

Offers practical experience and insight. The author brings to the text extensive experience in investigating family violence crimes, interviewing victims, interrogating suspects, and testifying in court. As a police veteran, Gosselin presents topics with intimate knowledge and insight that can only come from hard-won, real-world experience.

Covers important current issues and trends. Heavy Hands provides relevant, current coverage of developing trends and important issues. The text grounds students with history and background in the field but emphasizes topics important in today’s society, such as adolescent perpetrators, violence against women, gay and lesbian intimate partner violence, and abuse of older adults.

• In the News boxed features also provide examples and encourage analysis of controversial issues and current events in the news.

Promotes learning with effective features. The text includes numerous cases and boxed features designed to capture student interest and encourage critical thinking.

• Chapter Objectives guide learning by focusing attention on important points.
• Simply Scenario features at the end of each chapter ask students to put knowledge into practice by applying chapter material to real scenarios.
• Been There… Done That case studies illustrate chapter topics with real-life examples, helping students associate discussions with real events.
• More About It feature boxes provide in-depth coverage of important family violence issues.
• Questions for Review at the end of each chapter help students review and master chapter material.