가정폭력범죄 대응정책에 대한 비판적 검토: "피해자 선택"으로부터 "피해자 권한강화"로

이 글은 가정폭력에 대한 형사법적 개입의 가치와 현실을 검토하고, 피해자의 관점에서 보다 실효성 있는 새로운 정책대안을 모색하려는 것이다. 서구의 경험(특히 미국과 영국의 경험)을 토대로 가정폭력에 대한 "피해자 선택모델"과 "체포우선모델"의 정책 변화와 그 실행 효과를 경험적 조사연구 및 평가결과들을 통하여 살펴보고, 이러한 비판적 검토를 토대로 새로운 정책대안으로서 "피해자 권한강화 모델(victim empowerment model)"에 의거한 접근방법의 필요성을 제시하고자한다.

This paper explores the neglected question of why victims of domestic violence call the police, and how useful the legal response (including criminal justice process) is to them. We found that many women do not seek criminal sanctions because sanction are unlikely to help to end the violence. In this paper, I explore the views about the value of criminal justice interventions in their own cases, examine the rationale behind these views and assess changes in domestic violence policy and practice over the past few years in the light of this victim perspective. Domestic violence is different from moot other crimes. Because present legal responding to domestic violence which give effect to victim preferences are also naive in ignoring the circumstances which shapes victim preferences. Thus, this research suggests for an approach which would empower victims to make choices which are less coerced (by their circumstances) than is usual at present. Elements of this approach can be found in the practices of some domestic violence units.