Policies Directed Toward Domestic Violence
Up until the 1970’s, violence between intimate partners often went unnoticed. Historically, intimate partner violence was seen as a private and sensitive matter which caused the state and law enforcement personnel to be heavily reluctant toward intervening. However, due to strong feminist activism and the acknowledgement that the woman is more likely to be murdered in her own home from intimate partner violence than any other form of victimization, the state and police have begun to become more active. During the Carter administration, domestic violence was widely recognized as a social problem and there was heavy funding toward research and domestic violence programs. However, midway through Reagan’s term much of the funding had all but ceased. Due to more feminist activism and certain historical events such as the OJ Simpson case, eventually domestic violence was once again viewed as social problem and heavy attention went toward the issue.
Federal Violence against Women Act:
Speak up, and Speak Out! If you are anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, don’t be afraid to seek help! National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
Federal Violence against Women Act:
- Strengthened the criminal justice response to violence against women
- Encouraged the states to implicate mandatory arrest policies
- Held rapists more accountable for their crimes by creating the “rape shield law”
- Made sure that all protective orders be recognized in any jurisdiction across the country.
- Increased the rates of prosecution, conviction, and sentencing.
- Established the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: - Single largest funding source for emergency services for domestic violence victims and their children
- FVPSA programs promote coordination between different community resources making the response to violence more efficient.
- Facilitate and improve outreach, information gathering, and service response to under-served communities.
- Domestic violence public awareness
National Coalition against Domestic Violence
- Leading lobbying group on the domestic violence
Mandatory Arrest Policy:
- Encouraged the criminal justice system to crack down on the issue.
- Requires police officers to automatically make an arrest if they have probable cause that an assault or battery has occurred.
- Removes police discretion and also eliminates victims’ preferences about an incident.
Protection Orders:
- Ordering the abuser not to harm or threaten the victim and the victim’s children.
- Ordering the abuser to stay away from the victim’s house and workplace.
- Forbidding the abuser from having any contact with the victim and victim’s children.
- Awarding the victim temporary custody of children who are with the abuser.
- Awarding the victim spousal support-if married.
- Ordering abusers to take counseling programs.
Speak up, and Speak Out! If you are anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, don’t be afraid to seek help! National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE