Lena-May J. Haught, Grand Canyon University
Within the criminal justice system here in Maricopa County, two sets of written sources determine how crimes are addressed. The first is Arizona law, and the second is Maricopa County Protocol. Currently, no comprehensive comparative analysis exists on how different varieties of Family Violence are addressed within Maricopa County by law enforcement. This literature review seeks to fill the gap in the literature by reviewing the 34 relevant Arizona statutes and three relevant Multidisciplinary Protocols which pertain to Family Violence. Child maltreatment serves as the primary focus, and the other two major forms of Family Violence-intimate partner violence and vulnerable adult abuse-provide points of consideration to enable comparative analysis. Differences are highlighted, and their significance for victims of Family Violence in Maricopa County is explained in the context of a thorough, evidence-based definitional framework.