This article presents a comparative criminological analysis of approaches to preventing family (domestic) violence in Austria, Spain, the United Kingdom, Finland, the United States, Japan, France, Italy and Portugal. The mechanisms used in these jurisdictions are assessed in terms of early risk identification, victim protection, inter-agency coordination, interventions targeting perpetrator behaviour, and electronic monitoring. The analysis demonstrates that, for Uzbekistan, the most appropriate course is not the direct transplantation of foreign institutions but the careful adaptation of their effective elements to existing national mechanisms.
International Experience in Preventing Family (Domestic) Violence Offences: A Comparative Analysis and Prospects for Adaptation to Uzbekistan’s National System
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References
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