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Richard L. Davis is a retired lieutenant
from the Brockton, Mass., Police Department. He completed studies in Criminal Justice Management at LaSalle University. He
has a graduate degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College, and another in liberal arts with a concentration in history
from Harvard University. Lieutenant Richard L. Davis is the author of Domestic
Violence: Facts and Fallacies and Domestic Violence: Intervention, Prevention, Policies, and Solutions.
Various Reviews of Domestic
Violence: Facts and Fallacies:
“Combining scholarly research
and his own experiences as a police officer, Davis persuasively makes the case that, as a broad institution, the criminal
justice system has miserably failed the victims of intra-family violence....Davis' explanation of how court system boondoggles
thwart efforts to deter spousal attacks is alone worth the price of the book....Our understanding of domestic violence is
becoming more sophisticated. And Davis, street-smart and informed, is challenging us to update our laws to reflect that growing
awareness.”–APB Online www.apbonline.com
“[T]his book is not just another
pie in the sky, I feel your pain, liberal bedtime story....Davis' book is very well written and speaks to the side of
domestic violence that is very seldom addressed. It is a common sense approach....recommend[ed] for all law enforcement professionals
involved in policy development and domestic violence training....also a must read for every police recruit in the country.”–The
Law Enforcement Trainer's Page
“[Davis] writes in a lucid style
that can be easily understood by students, professionals, and the general public. He also backs up his work by extensive chapter
notes, appendices and bibliography. This should be a major resource in the understanding of the domestic violence problem
and will no doubt be a text book in demand by academics.”–The Cape Cod Journal
“In a comprehensive review of
relevant research, Davis clarifies police behavior and stresses the necessity of broad-based community cooperation to improve
domestic violence intervention.”–A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health
One reader of Domestic
Violence: Facts and Fallacies said, “domestic violence
is still not treated as a serious crime by the criminal justice system because it is not by legal definition a serious crime."
In his text 'Domestic Violence, Facts and Fallacies,' Richard L. Davis shares anecdotes and insights from his twenty-one
years on the Brockton, Massachusetts police force and single-handedly shatters the stereotype of the macho, donut munching
man in blue. It is very difficult to fully get one's mind around the concept of domestic violence. Relationships in the
90's are very fluid and unconventional: this alone can stretch the definition of "domestic." Davis spends the
first few chapters trying to elucidate a broad definition of domestic violence, and frankly, gets bogged down in doing so.
He also investigates the history of gender relationships in our society. However, these steps are necessary in order to lay
the groundwork for his premise that "...for every complex problem there is a simple and elegant solution that is wrong."
The quagmire of mandatory arrests and civil (as opposed to criminal) restraining orders are some of the solutions we have
relied upon that are not only dysfunctional, but may be fanning the flames of domestic violence. His data is well researched
and reflects many recent news events such as the O. J. Simpson trial and the court frolics of Red Sox player Wilfredo Cordero.
What I found riveting in this book are the timely anecdotes that Davis shares from his career. He relates that fellow officers
feel (and express!) their perceived helplessness in making a difference against violent acts in the home. Particularly irksome
for them is the widespread belief that police "let their suspects go" without even spending a night in jail. In
fact, anyone who posts bail must, by law, be set free. Also ironic is the fact that police can do nothing until an act of
violence has very nearly or actually come to pass. It is this "reactive" response that Davis rails against. He raises
difficult questions, especially in regard to how we permit children to live in violent homes and then, unrealistically, expect
them to grow up into outstanding citizens. Law enforcement processes are a reflection of the society that spawns them. Davis
outlines steps that society must take in order to hold a proactive stance against the crime of domestic violence. He ends
his text with a call to action for all women who must become informed and take back their power in the political arena..”
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