Killing her softly: Intimate abuse and the violence of state intervention

In this commentary, Professor Mills argues that we need to reconsider the f eminist position that mandatory interventions in domestic violence cares, i ncluding mandatory arrest, prosecution, and reporting serve the best intere sts of all battered women. Reviewing the findings from relevant empirical s tudies, Professor Mills concludes that battered women are safest - and feel most respected - when they willingly partner with state actors to investig ate and prosecute domestic violence crimes. Clinically speaking, a battered woman needs a healing response to the intimate abuse, one that nurtures he r strengths and empowers her to act. Mandatory state interventions, even wh en sponsored by feminists, not only disregard these clinical concerns, but also are in danger of replicating the rejection, degradation, terrorization , social isolation, missocialization, exploitation, emotional unresponsiven ess, and close confinement that are endemic to the abusive relationship In an effort to alter these abusive dynamics and promote a more respectful rel ationship between state actors and battered women Professor Mills proposes a Survivor-Centered Model that relies on clinical methods that engage the b attered woman, foster her healing, and promote her safety.