Domestic Violence Offenders

Another common effect on children who witness domestic violence is that they have severe gender role issues. Clearly, children exposed to the abuse of their mothers are at risk for learning deleterious patterns of social behavior and for developing distorted expectations about the appropriate roles of men and women in the family (Brescoll & Graham-Bermann, 2000, p.2). Therefore, children exposed

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is a common problem. As a result, the criminal justice adapted to demands, especially from feminists, who bemoaned the poor response of police, and in turn, the justice system by instituting mandatory arrests. However, mandatory arrests have proven that just like protection or restraining orders, they are not effective in deterring domestic violence (Davis, 2008). Similarly, the arrests do not have a substantial effect on recidivism and create undue procedural complications for the criminal system (Zelcer, 2014). On the contrary, proponents of the approach, argue that it has a deterrent effect on the perpetrators and that it can even protect offer immediate protection for the victims (Clark, 2010). Nonetheless, using statistical evidence and arguments from scholarly sources, this position paper will expose the inefficiencies and constitutional inconsistencies that make mandatory arrests harmful for the batterer, victim, and the criminal justice system.

Shelters and Protection orders are not effective either. According to R.A.D.A.R (Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting), "One study concluded that restraining orders are flatly ‘ineffective in stopping physical violence,' while a more recent report concluded that, "Having a permanent order did not appear to deter most types of abuse."

Findings have demonstrated that the policies appear to work at first; however, later on they started to do more harm than good. In the book “Family Violence” by Liza N. Burby, she stated, “but mandatory arrest is not a long-term solution to domestic violence. It is a quick way to calm an explosive situation and to get the abused out of harm’s way” (Burby 54). This shows that mandatory arrests are not the solution for domestic violence because it has only worked when there was an “explosive situation”, but for the long run; it has made more harm than helping the people suffering from domestic violence. This findings showed that when the pro-arrest or mandatory arrest policies have worked when they first were made, but now they no longer work as expected and instead they are hurting more and more as time goes on. In the article “Mandatory Arrest Laws Do Not Reduce Domestic Violence” by John Klofas, he claims that “arrest can reduce violence in the short term but it can increase it in the long run. According to the research, arrest resulted in a doubling of the rate of violence within a year” (Klofas). This also supports the idea that mandatory arrests policies worked at first, but later they stopped working. Policies like pro-arrest were not made for the long-term use. Besides that they not only work, they have also increased the amount of violence in families who are affected by domestic violence. The harm that produces these policies has alarmingly increased, the amount of violence has doubled in only one year. There must be an alternate solution to this problem because if there is no action, people are going to be affected. In the article “Mandatory Arrest and Restraining Orders Are Ineffective” by Richard L. Davis, he stated that, “arrest reduces domestic violence in the short run but escalates

In order to combat domestic violence, many states passed laws and legislation requiring police to make warrantless arrests in response to all domestic violence calls. Harvard scholar, Radha Iyengar, who has studied domestic violence related homicide and the effects of mandatory arrest policies for domestic violence, suggests that although these policies were created to help victims, the solution of mandatory arrests in domestic violence incidents, led to many negative consequences; putting many women in danger, rather than helping them (Iyengar). Though designed to deter violence by offenders, mandatory arrest laws make women more vulnerable to being arrested themselves, lead abuse in domestic violence disputes to become more severe, and deter women from reporting violence to police (Strout).

The prevalence of domestic violence in the United States is that it is occurring far more often than many individuals would choose to admit. This form of violence is by no means new and culturally the problem itself does not discriminate, there is no specific criteria that completely omits one from becoming a victim of domestic violence. The dynamics of domestic violence consist of the aggressor utilizing violence to maintain dominance and control over the victim. The victimization that is consistent with domestic violence can come in various forms including, physical, sexual, psychological, mental/emotional, and financial. Domestic violence victimization is a cycle that usually is difficult to terminate by many victims as well as aggressors. Individuals involved in abusive relationships continue to remain in them for various reasons such as, maintaining financial stability, desire or hope that things will change overtime, fear that their abuser, will further harm them for leaving the relationship, embarrassment of their situation, or there may be children involved and the victims wants to avoid some of the harsh realities associated with a broken home. Oftentimes domestic violence victims blame themselves for the violence encountered by their abusers, figuring that if they do things differently the next time, maybe they won’t be victimized again by their partner. Conversely, violence committed by abusers is often self-driven and hinges on very minor actions executed by the

Domestic violence is a crime that has increased in the recent years; therefore, recently, domestic violence has become a widely researched topic. Some of the extensive research regarding domestic violence “indicates that intimate partner violence arrest rates have risen as a direct result of the implementation of mandatory and preferred arrest domestic violence laws. However, this research also suggests that part of this increase can be attributed to an increase in the arrest rate of females in cases of domestic assault. In addition, the arrest of both parties involved in an incident, also known as a “dual arrest,” appears to have contributed to the rising rates of domestic assault arrest” (Hirschel et al., 2007, p. 255). In other words, it

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.

These include federal domestic violence laws and law enforcement measures. Common intervention strategies include batterer intervention programs, arrest, protection order, court intervention, and prosecution. Even though, increased warrantless arrests, firearm confiscation, prosecution, and financial aids to families with dependent children were associated with a decreased rate of domestic violence, research shows that some chronically aggressive intimate partners continue to abuse their partner regardless of the interventions. Furthermore, understanding demographic differences among victims and abusers including race and education level, can help to predict which intervention will work best for specific groups (National Institute of Justice, 2007). According to Bradford and el‘s opinion regarding the Criminal Justice System’s response to domestic violence, there is a need for service provider and policy makers to provide preventive interventions. The policies should provide crucial skills, attitudes, and knowledge that give partners a better chance of developing and sustaining a healthy mutual satisfying couple relationship” (Bradford & el, 2015). According to research documentation (women's health magazine, 2013), despite the above measures by the state government, the prevalence of the abuse persists. Furthermore, measures against physiological/ verbal

For children living in violent and unsafe homes, they are learning that hitting and verbally abusing someone is the proper way of communicating love. According to Holt, Buckley & Whelan (2008), “as they learn a generational cycle begins in which children grow up to be victims and abusers as adults.” The effects that domestic violence has on children are heartbreaking. Some of the major effects are; increased risk of poor health, poor education, isolation, learned helplessness and decreased satisfaction in such family environment.

In the struggle and determination to end intimate partner violence, laws were made to provide a sense of security in the homes of these domestic violence victims. These laws created an impression that this violence can and will be stopped by law enforcement individuals. That is to say that law enforcement is given the power to make warrantless arrests to ensure that the victim is safe and away from the perpetrator. Many states have different discretionary mandates that specifically advise these officers to be decisive in the situations that they will face in the future. In some states, the mandatory arrest is up to the officer’s own judgement, while in other states they have the more assertive and hard-hitting approach to end the violence.

Domestic abuse is a very serious offense, and it needs to be stopped. It is not only a legal offense, but it is a humane offense. Abuse is wrong and lead to very serious consequences for the abuser and the abusee. Relationships are very important and are a wonderful part of life, but they can crumble when tension and strain are not properly taken care of. This can lead to abuse, and once abuse starts it can be difficult to stop. This is why prevention needs to be improved and strengthened. In order to strengthen domestic abuse prevention there needs to be more focus on counseling, classes, and programs.

After these arrests, prosecutors make sure that the offender does not do further harm to them and make sure that they are less likely to recidivate and come after the victim once more. In this process while the culprit is arrested, their view of their relationship between the victim and the offender is seen in a new light. This opportunity that was given to them is a chance to go elsewhere and receive a protective order so they can live a new life. This arrest can also provide empowerment towards the victim and ensure that they take the action to better lives and their families, if they have one. The mandatory arrest laws show society that they will not respond lightly to individuals that take part in domestic violence. Perpetrators are now wary of determining whether or not they should inflict harm onto their intimate partners in the

Many victims believe that psychological counseling gives a more effective result to prevent reoffending and that just sending them to jail is not so effective (Buzawa et al., 2012). Some would go to counseling alone or with their partner that they were abusing. The coalition against domestic violence and other organizations feel that couples going to counseling together is more likely to cause the violence at home to increase because one of the reason is now both people feel that they need to change ("Recent trends in treating domestic violence," 2010). I think this can cause the victim to feel more strongly that this was their fault. Batterer intervention programs are suppose to help offenders realize that their behavior is wrong and there needs to be a change. "The most recent estimate identified 2,265 batterer programs nationwide in 2007, and the reseachers believed this to be much lower than the actual number" (Buzawa et al.,

Every year in the United States, One in four women are victims of the domestic violence; however, this is only based on what has been reported to the department of justice (Stahly 2008). While men are also victims of domestic violence, women are more often the victims. Moreover, 90% of domestic violence is male initiated. In severe cases domestic violence ends with victims being murdered. More specifically, domestic violence resulted in 2,340 deaths in the United States in 2007, and 70% of those killed were females (CDC 2012). Many people think that victims have the option of leaving and many people blame victims for putting up with the abuse; what many people don 't know is, victims of domestic violence have many reasons preventing them from leaving their abusers, these reasons include, isolation, having children bounding them with the abuser and lack of financial support. "It 's never pretty when you leave an abusive and controlling relationship. The warden always protests when a prison gets shut down," says Dr. Steve Maraboli (qtd from web). Whether a victim stays or leaves their abuser, the outcomes of both situations are not always as easy as many people predict. In some situations, the outcomes of leaving may be very dangerous for both the victim and her children.