Domestic Violence : The United States Essay

Domestic abuse in the United States is a large-scale and complex social and health problem. The home is the most violent setting in America today (Lay, 1994). Sadly enough, the majority of people who are murdered are not likely killed by a stranger during a hold-up or similar crime but are killed by someone they know. Not surprisingly, the Center for Disease Control and prevention has identified interpersonal violence as a major public health problem (Velson-Friedrich, 1994). Current estimates suggest that three to four million women are the victims of physical abuse by their intimate partners (Harris & Cook, 1994). According to the FBI, some form of domestic violence occurs in half of the homes in the United States at least once a

Every action is followed by a reaction; however, occasionally the reaction is only a temporary solution that leads to long-term consequences. This is especially true of how domestic violence is currently governed by the criminal justice system and social norms. A lack of preventative care exists and this ignores the consequences of domestic violence in our society. Incidents of domestic violence are often treated as one-time or isolated occurrences; however, in many cases abusers and victims fall back into these learnt behaviors. Therefore, domestic violence is a never-ending cycle that cannot be stopped without cultural and legal changes that focus on preventing further instances of violence and empowering victims to break the cycle.

The problem of domestic violence is on the rise and causing more harm than ever to its victims and their family. Even though there are so many domestic violence cases in the world today, there are still many people in the United States today that are unaware of how serous this crime has become. The explanation for this may be that there are many households that have not ever experienced any type of violence in their home. Many victims of this type of abuse have been misleading by their abuser that they do not even realize that they are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence causes

According to “The United States Department of Justice” Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence has different forms sexual, physical, emotional and psychological actions or threats. These forms of treatment can influence another person. There are

•On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

It has been recorded that approximately “2,000,000 injuries, and 1,300 deaths are caused each year as a result of domestic violence” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This harm to and loss of life is due to the negligence of all Americans, in regards to the monitoring and managing of domestic violence in the United States. In order to combat the blatant disregard for domestic violence victims, Americans must support, aid, and assist those who fall victim to this crime, as well as educate those who are oblivious to the matter at hand. These actions will be essential in the eradication of domestic violence, as well as the preservation of the health and overall safety of all American people.

Stuart F. Delery, Former Acting Associate Attorney General, (2015) states "The month of October is observed as Domestic Violence Awareness Month around the country by advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, survivors and many others to raise public awareness about domestic violence." According to the United States Department of Justice (2016) domestic violence is defined as "a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner." Domestic violence is one criminal justice issue frequently faced by law enforcement, attorneys, and especially victims of the crime. The United States Department of Justice (2016) asserts domestic violence can be any type of action or threat of action, such as physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological that influences another person; this includes behaviors in a way that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. Regardless of age, sexual orientation, race, religion, socioeconomic background, education level, or gender, domestic violence can happen to any individual despite being in a opposite-sex or same-sex relationship and whether the intimate partners are married, cohabiting, or simply dating. Since domestic violence can occur at any time and place to anyone, initiatives taken

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior or coercive control in any relationship that is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another. (Violence). Most of society’s think domestic violence is when one of the spouses is abusing the other spouse. Domestic violence can occur between anyone who has lived together at one point of time; couples who have never lived together, but have a child together and family member who has live together in the same household. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their class, religion, ethnic background, education, age, gender, disability status, sexual orientation, gender presentation, or immigration status. The domestic violence can place in different categories, such as; emotional abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse. Researcher had discovered tactics that the abusers use to control their victims such as; dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and shifting blame. (Helpguide.org).

Domestic violence, a form violence that inflicts pain to the people around the abuser, still remains as a big issue to society. Domestic violence has no gender, meaning it affects anybody at any place. The outcome of this violence critically affects the victim to several psychological and physiological issues. Domestic violence brings negative outcomes towards the victim and the abuser. Domestic violence could ruin both the victim and the abuser’s lives. Domestic violence still remains a big issue because it causes  critical consequences and people should be more mindful and educated about aggressive behavior at home.

According to statistics found by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Every nine seconds a woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. At least 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Most often the abuser is one of their own family. Domestic violence is a problem that somehow affects every one of us in this room at some time and is actually the leading cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.

Our existence can be illustrated by envisioning a painter who is fabricating a painting. As the painter begins to use the soft brush, its thistles with each movement construct systems and subsystems that are elaborately woven together to display biased perception of ourselves. Consequently, a misguided stroke may alter an exceptional piece of art turning it into a catastrophe. Regrettably, this metaphor unveils the misfortune that can occur in the lives of numerous individuals. Comparatively, like the painter who can be consumed by adversity, a victim of domestic violence with one misstep can eradicate his/her own life.

“Mandatory arrest policies oversimplify the issue of domestic violence, offering a one-size-fits-all solution to a complex social problem” (Zelcer, 2014, p.560). Mandatory arrest laws were created to protect and help victims of domestic violence. However, there have been many issues with this law. Understanding the positive strides made by this law and the negative or unintended consequences allows for a better understanding of mandatory arrest laws and social issues that face society today. Examining the creation of these laws, the implications for victims and abusers, the effectiveness, and proposed solutions to issues of domestic violence provides a discussion on laws and challenges that face the criminal justice system. The norms present in society affects how abuse is treated.

Domestic violence, what is it? Domestic violence is composed of behaviors and actions that an individual does in a relationship to take control of the other person. Some of theses actions consist of name-calling, withholding money from them, intimidation, physical harm, and the list can go on, (Thawley). The real question that multiple people have asked is if a person is going through this type of pain, why don’t they leave their abusive partner. One can find it difficult to understand why they wont leave. And it is because “breaking free of abuse is not simply a matter of walking out the door”, (Davis). The answer is because it is not that easy for one to leave for there are emotional reasons and situational reasons that keep them where they

In America most cases of Domestic Violence are never actually reported, many times these cases go unheard and the victims suffer in silence. The worn out cries of a battered woman as she lays on the ground clutching herself and begging her significant other to just stop. The bruises and cuts that remain unreported due to the victim claiming they accidentally fell yet again. The abusers tend to make the victim almost entirely dependable on them. An abuser will do this to gain control and to create a weaker victim, “behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other” (Par. 1, Definition). Control. The abuser seeks control over their victims. When their control is threatened they act out in ways harmful to others. Domestic

Domestic violence: When it comes to domestic violence is it gender bias when it comes to being helped with shelters for victims, treatment, and suspect classification? Is domestic violence caused by a mental illness, the need to be in control, self-insecurities, or something else? Does growing up in a house with domestic violence make it more likely the children will continue the cycle of abuse and control in their homes? If victims of domestic hurts or kills their abuser after being shuffled through the legal system without receiving help, justice, and protection, should they be held accountable or is it justified self-defense? Why is domestic violence done and lied about if the abuser is not ashamed or know they are wrong for what they are doing?