Fighting for my Life
Domestic violence is always in the media we see time and time again reports of horrific abuse within families.
However we only ever hear about the assault and what the sentencing was. What about the rest of the story what happens in the aftermath? Do programs for violent offenders really work? Can the damage they have done to their families be forgiven? In fighting for my life by J.J. Joseph some of these questions are answered. In 2006 Joseph was convicted of a horrific assault on his wife. He was sentenced to home detention and faced the prospect of never seeing his wife or children again. Part of his process in changing his behaviour was looking at what had happened to him in the past, and coming to terms with it and realising that he could not blame his past or other people for his violence. Joseph accepted his punishment and started a process that would be painful, emotional and force him to admit the truth to himself that he was violent, that he was the problem and that to gain a way back into his family and have productive relationships with them he had a long road to walk. At times this is a disturbing read however it does show that sometimes the process makes a difference.
15 August 2008
