Posted: February 14th, 2023

Domestic Violence

All students should prepare a 5 to 10-page paper about a criminology topic that is listed below. Students should be able to demonstrate having a solid understanding of the topic.

You may choose a topic of your choice

Suggested Topics:

sex related offense
prostitution
homicide
domestic violence
rape
corporate crimes
cybercrimes
transnational crimes
terrorism
political crimes

Your paper should cover the following:

Criminology Topic for your discussion
Describe topic in detail
Discuss topic as it relates to issue/problem in the field of criminology
Discuss the summary of the issues/problems presented.
Discuss what is being done to address the criminology issue (topic you chose)
Are the current practices to address the criminology issue effective? Why? Why not?
Recommendation for changes in criminal justice policies to address the criminology issue (topic you choose)
Paper should be 5 full pages to 10 pages.
Be sure in include citations of sources used in the body of the paper and include a works cited page.
Documentation

You must document your sources using Criminology’s standard citation method, APA.

Domestic Violence

Introduction
According to researchers and commentators on the topic, instances of domestic violence tend to increase when families spend more time together (Bradbury-Jones & Isham, 2020). This is one of the many challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has earned it the title, a “shadow pandemic.” Another one of the many challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic is the rise in the number of incidents of domestic violence. As a result of this, Bradbury-Jones and Isham (2020) state that the currently restricted movement, lockdowns, quarantine, social distancing, and isolation have resulted in the need for families to spend more time together. This is a factor that exposes vulnerable people such as girls and women to potential abusers or abusers who are already in their lives. According to Groves (2013), domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that occurs within a relationship and with the intention of either maintaining or gaining control or authority over a partner. This violence can take the form of physical violence, mental violence, sexual violence, or any number of other forms; its purpose is to hurt, humiliate, or control one of the partners in an intimate relationship. According to Groves (2013), domestic violence is an issue that can afflict anyone regardless of their socioeconomic class or level of education. Moreover, it is a problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent. The majority of occurrences of domestic violence go unreported for a variety of reasons, including fear of social stigma and pressure from family members, despite the fact that extensive efforts are made to address the underlying issues associated with domestic abuse (Groves, 2013). This article intends to explain the nature and breadth of domestic violence, as well as the steps that are now being done to alleviate the problem, as well as the reasons why the techniques that are currently being used to treat domestic violence are ineffectual. In addition to this, it will provide recommendations for the actions that should be taken in the future to remedy this problem.
The Characteristics and Scope of Intimate Partner Violence
According to a study conducted by the National Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (NCADV), there are an average of over 20 people who are subjected to domestic violence every minute in the United States (Bosak, Das & Aminul Haque, 2019). There are approximately 10 million people in the United States who are experiencing some form of domestic violence at any given moment, according to this estimate (Bosak, Das & Aminul Haque, 2019). Because domestic violence is such a pervasive and significant issue that is affecting not just the United States but also the rest of the world, there is a need to understand its typical causes as well as the implications that it has on both the person and society as a whole.
The Most Common Factors Contributing to Domestic Violence
There are a number of hypotheses that have been put up to explain the primary contributors to domestic violence. The psychological theories that concentrate on the mental features and personality traits of people who commit acts of domestic violence are one possible explanation for this phenomenon. A lack of self-esteem, a short fuse, and explosive outbursts of rage are some examples of the kinds of personality characteristics that might contribute to domestic violence (Wallace & Roberson, 2015). According to a number of hypotheses, those who are victims of violence or abuse as children are more prone to engage in violent behavior as adults. For instance, Wallace and Roberson (2015) found that there is a connection between domestic violence and adolescent delinquency. They concluded that this connection is a good one. This research suggests that delinquent children have a greater likelihood of engaging in domestic violence as adults. According to the findings of earlier studies, the vast majority of males who suffer from prevalent personality disorders are likely to be violent offenders in the home (Groves, 2013). As a result, we may draw the following conclusion based on the findings of this study: psychological elements have a significant role in the development of domestic violence.
It has also been demonstrated that jealousy between intimate partners is a common cause of domestic violence in the United States. This predicament typically arises when one spouse has reason to believe that the other is being unfaithful or, in some instances, is making plans to terminate the partnership (Groves, 2013). As a direct consequence of this, this can frequently result in aggressive conduct or exchanges as a response to the claims or mistrust that has been expressed.
It is well established that the majority of cases of domestic violence may be traced back to social and economic strains. For instance, people are more prone to experience stress if they live in familial situations that put them in a position where they are exposed to increasing pressures (Groves, 2013). In addition, Groves contends (2013) that social strains brought on by a lack of proper resources and financial support could potentially contribute to an escalation of conflicts within a relationship between inmates. This conclusion suggests that low-income couples are more prone to engage in domestic violence due to increased stress or conflicts that may emerge as a result of their economics or other factors of their relationship.
In conclusion, it is well established that issues of power and control are at the heart of domestic violence. This truth has been abundantly obvious with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred during a time when imminent unemployment and economic insecurity made it difficult for some families to supply themselves with a meal that was considered to be of adequate quality (Groves, 2013). As a direct result of this, heads of households come to feel as though they have lost control of their households, which can result in irritation, explosive tempers, and irritability—all of which are risk factors for domestic violence.
The Consequences of Physical and Verbal Abuse in the Home
The victim frequently sustains physical injuries as a result of being a victim of domestic violence. These injuries might include fractured bones, internal bleeding, bruising, and brain trauma (Groves, 2013). The ramifications of domestic abuse can sometimes be so severe that the victim needs to be hospitalized as a result of the trauma they have experienced. In addition, domestic abuse has been associated to the development of a number of persistent diseases, including ulcers, migraines, arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome (Groves, 2013). Women who are pregnant and who are subjected to domestic violence have an increased risk of sustaining a miscarriage as well as a damage to the developing fetus. The fact that domestic violence may have such tangible repercussions highlights the severity of the issue, which must be addressed if we are to find a way to shield victims from experiencing these consequences.
It is also well established that victims of domestic violence frequently suffer from a variety of psychological illnesses. For instance, the majority of people who have been victims of domestic violence have a tendency to exhibit severe indicators of stress, worry, and fear, particularly in circumstances in which they are still living in the same house with the people who have abused them (Groves, 2013). Additionally, Groves (2013) suggests that depression is another prevalent result of domestic violence, particularly in situations in which the victims have been harassed or subjected to heavy criticism. This is especially true in circumstances where the victims have been subjected to both of these factors. In extreme cases, victims of domestic violence may be at risk for developing panic attacks and anxiety disorders that last for a long time.
Last but not least, if the issue of domestic violence is not addressed or if it escalates to a severe level, it is likely to end in divorce and the acrimonious dissolution of families. In situations like this, it is the children who are the ones who suffer the most since they are the ones who have to deal with the mental and emotional trauma that is associated with such breakups. Children who have been exposed to domestic violence are more likely to participate in criminal behavior than children who come from stable households, according to a number of studies, which imply that there is a substantial association between juvenile crimes and unstable families (Groves, 2013). The substantial impact that domestic violence has on the structure of the family is demonstrated by the elements listed above.
Efforts Made by Law Enforcement Agencies to Combat the Problem of Domestic Violence
The problem of violence towards spouses and other family members in the United States has been the subject of a significant amount of legislation in recent years. As an illustration, the Violence Against Women Act (often known as “VAWA”) was approved by congress in the year 1994. This act recognized domestic abuse as a national crime, which meant that the federal courts may handle cases involving domestic violence. This was especially helpful in situations where the local criminal justice and state legal systems were overburdened with such matters (Lee 2017). In addition, Lee (2017) says that the Gun Control Act of 1996 made it a federal crime for anyone convicted of domestic violence to own firearms. This law was passed in an effort to combat gun violence. In spite of the fact that the local and state courts continue to handle the vast majority of cases involving domestic violence, certain extreme cases, such as those in which firearms are involved or in which the lower courts are unable to handle the volume of cases, can be controlled by a federal court (Lee 2017). These two acts demonstrate the commitment of the United States legal enforcement agencies to bring justice on matters related to domestic violence.
The establishment of the Violence Against Women Acts (VAWA), which is aimed at ending domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault, among other related offenses, is another legal effort that was geared towards addressing domestic violence. VAWA was established in order to combat domestic violence (Lee 2017). The establishment of this legislation helped advocates of victims work harmoniously with government agencies to prevent domestic violence and to enhance the various local violence victim support programs. Additionally, (Lee 2017) points that the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) help domestic violence victims with federal funding to provide shelter and other related help. The establishment of these two legislations has been credited for helping to improve how various law enforcement agencies work jointly to eliminate domestic violence and help victims within communities.
The American CDC funds the DELTA program, a program established to prevent domestic violence in specific communities. This program tries to develop some of the common factors contributing to domestic violence, and an effort is made to eliminate or address the identified factors (Lee 2017). The social-ecological model is often applied to illustrate the connection existing between the individual, community, and the societal factors influencing violence.
These are some of the legal enforcement measures being undertaken to help address domestic violence issues. More measures are still being developed even today to enhance the current legislation and seal any loopholes.
Reasons Why the Current Practices To Address Domestic Violence Are Ineffective
Although numerous strategies and measures have been employed to address domestic violence, some of them appear to be ineffective because domestic violence cases continue to surge, especially during this Covid-19 epidemic period. One of the factors that can be blamed for this development is community attitudes towards domestic and sexual violence. Studies have shown that community attitude towards domestic violence can trivialize or lower the seriousness with which this problem is handled (Bradbury‐Jones & Isham, 2020). Such factors are considered to be among the strongest predators preventing the current practices to address domestic violence from being productive.
Another hindrance has been attributed to the non-reporting of domestic violence. These situations often arise when the victims fear the perpetrators might revenge or fear that they might not be believed (Bradbury‐Jones & Isham, 2020). In some cases, Bradbury‐Jones & Isham, (2020) suggest that the victim may feel confused or embarrassed about being subjected to domestic violence, thus refining from reporting such incidences. These factors remain a hindrance to the measures being taken to address domestic violence from being effective.
Recommendations
Future cases of domestic violence can be prevented by changing current criminal justice policies addressing criminology issues. Some of these recommendations would too; Establish programs that teach intimate couples about healthy and safe relationship skills. This can begin at the youth level where they can be subjected to various programs about social-emotional learning, while adult couples can be given healthy relationship programs.
Another policy initiative would be to strengthen the economic support being given to families. As earlier established, one of the key factors contributing to domestic violence arises from social-economic problems such as poverty and low level of education. As such, programs should be established to help struggle families meet these objectives as a deterrent to future issues of domestic violence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, domestic violence is a problem that can affect anyone regardless of their socioeconomic status or education level. With domestic violence being such a prevalent and serious problem affecting the United States and the world, there is a need to understand its typical causes and its effects on the individual and society in general. A lot of legislation has been put in place to address the issue of domestic violence in the United States. However, more efforts still need to be done to enhance the current legislation and seal any loopholes that might exist

References
Bosak, L., Das, T., & Aminul Haque, K. M. (2019). Domestic violence and women autonomy: The darkest truth of our society. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 1-9. doi:10.9734/ajess/2019/v3i430101
Bradbury‐Jones, C., & Isham, L. (2020). The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(13-14), 2047-2049. doi:10.1111/jocn.15296
Groves, N. (2013). Domestic violence and criminal justice. doi:10.4324/9781315863078
Lee E., R. (2017). Domestic violence. Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice, 3-20. doi:10.4324/9781315157092-2
Smithey, M., Green, S. E., & Giacomazzi, A. L. (2000). Collaborative effort and the effectiveness of law enforcement training toward resolving domestic violence. PsycEXTRA Dataset. doi:10.1037/e511662006-001
Wallace, P. H., & Roberson, C. (2015). Family violence: Legal, medical, and social perspectives. Routledge.