NIJ-Day: Violence Against Women Act: Moving Towards Measurement and Evaluation of Gender-based Violence Legislation and Interventions

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and its reauthorizations in 2000, 2005, and 2013 were legislated to address gender-based violence on a national level, including responses to and prevention of violence against women, accountability for violent crimes, and victim safety. This legislation has supported federal, state, local, and private partners to implement policies and programs and conduct research directly related to gender-based violence. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of those mandates. Presenters in this panel session will provide an overview of the policies, programs, and research that have been mandated by VAWA and its reauthorizations and finish with a discussion of how to measure the outcomes of these mandates that fall under the umbrella of the VAWA and navigate the challenges of evaluating this multi-faceted approach to addressing gender-based violence.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 55. Law Making and Legal Change

Individual Presentations

• An Overview of Policies Mandated by the Violence Against Women Act and Reauthorizations - Rachel Davies, National Institute of Justice, AAAS Fellow

• An Overview of Programs Mandated by the Violence Against Women Act and Reauthorizations - Iris Cardenas, University of Maryland, Baltimore

• An Overview of Research Mandated by the Violence Against Women Act and Reauthorizations - Yunsoo Park, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice

• Future Directions for the Measurement and Evaluation of Gender-based Violence Policies and Programs - Lisa M. Thompson, Kennesaw State University

Chair

• Yunsoo Park, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice