Yolanda Wyche

Wayne State University

SW 4710: Social Welfare
Dr. Martin-Keys

Domestic violence
Domestic violence affects individuals of all races, ages, ethnicities,
economic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions , and
nationalities. (Commission on the status of women)2014
cosw.wayne.edu
The month of October is Domestic Violence awareness month.

Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a crime in the United States.
Awareness has been brought to the problem in recent years. Weisz et
al( 2000).
For a very long time the standard practices in most police
departments across the U.S. was to treat domestic violence cases as
family affairs and as such do not become involved. (Payne, Darrel &
Wermeling, L. (2009).

Domestic Violence
The physical and emotional abuse that comes with this crime can
diminish the self esteem of the victim. The abused person usually
suffers from verbal abuse since they are often called names and given
labels. Weisz. et al (2000)
Some women doubt their own judgment because their abusers
repeatedly told them they were stupid or crazy. Weisz. et al (2000).

Recent trends
Recent trends in policy reforms to overcome the difficulties in
responding to woman battering include removing arrest and
prosecution decisions from the abused woman . Weisz et al (2000).
Increasing the use of restraining orders and implementing batterer
treatment programs and sanctions. Weisz.et al (2002).

Making a difference
Safety planning is critical ; social workers and the legal professionals
should inform victims about judicial limitations . Payne and Warmeling
(2009).

Making a difference
A victim of domestic abuse should know what triggers an abuser.
What are the prediction measures to watch for
How would a victim know when to respond to the actions of batterer
Weisz et al. (2000).

The Community involvement

Police officers, prosecutors, nurses, doctors, public defenders,
judges and probation officers should all consider relevant safety
requirements for women that will aid them in coming forth to
prosecute their batters. Payne & Wermeling( 2009).

Alternative Policy
Victims of domestic violence may be reluctant to leave their abusers
due to fear of being a witness in a court room.
Most victims are aware that the legal system will not protect them after
court proceedings end, (Payne & Wermeling (2009).

My Policy Alternative

The alternative to these pressing issues can be found in the

community.
Community advocates have pushed police, prosecutors , hospitals
and social service agencies to respond to domestic violence (Payne &
Wermeling (2009).
Safety planning is critical for domestic violence victims.
Social workers and the legal professionals must face the truth about
judicial limitations. And communicate these limits to clients. Payne &
Wermeling (2009).

Policy Alternative
For women and victims of domestic violence to be able to predict
serious threats from a batterer. Straus (1996).
This would be helpful to a potential victim of domestic violence
abuse.
According to Straus (1996). Straus created a list of factors associated
with severe violence based on an analysis of the National Family
Violence Survey in 1985 .

Alternative Policy
Straus (1996). Stated that life threating risk are indicated when three
or more episodes of violence occurred in a one year time frame.
He also states that If 3 of those episodes came from a list of 18 violent
acts including drug abuse, police involvement and extreme male
dominance, abuse of a child, violence outside the home and frequent
Straus (1996).
Verbal aggression. Straus (1996).

Alternative Policy
According to Weisz .et al2005. There are several practical implications
in improving the ability to predict severe violence by batterers . This
refers to violence likely to result in injury or death.
The knowledge of knowing what to do could further assist counselors
for making realistic safety plans. Weisz.et al (2005).

Alternative Policy
The legal system must become more sensitive to the female victim
reluctant of pursuing prosecution. ( Payne & Wermeling) 2009
Police officers should be responsible for assisting temporary
protection orders and helping victims obtain information on available
domestic violence temporary shelters. (Payne & Wermeling ) 2009.

Alternative Policy
In France the law on violence against women is somewhat different
from the U. S
The French parliament has adopted a law 2010-769 of July 9, 2010 This
law includes co-habitation, marriage, and civil partnership.

The law includes a new civil code. It is a protection measure for victims
of domestic violence .
It contains civil and criminal prosecution.

France Policy on Domestic Violence

This law protects men and women but is primarily designed to help women
and children.
The abuser can be evicted from the property.
The violent spouse can be prohibited from owning a firearm or any other
weapon.
This allows victims to hide where they reside.
The victim is awarded legal aid .
A maximum penalty of three years in prison and a hefty fine for harassing
the victim further.

http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205402253_text

Conclusion
Many women in violent relationships primary goal is to get out of a
violent relationship without being physically harmed or financially
deprived. This task can be accomplished with the help of the legal
system , social workers and the community. The ability to respond to
this social problem that has become an epidemic is a key measure.
Weisz et al (2000).

 Weisz, A. Tolman, R. Saunders, D.

January 2002
Assessing the Risk of Severe Domestic Violence the Importance of
Survivors Predictions
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume 15 no 1
2005 sage publications.

References
: Erez, Edna, (January 31, 2002). "Domestic Violence and the Criminal
Justice System: An Overview" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol.
7 No. 1, Manuscript 3. Available:
www.nursingworld.org/ojin/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/
ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume72002/No1Jan2002/D
omesticViolenceandCriminalJustice.aspx

Volume 3, Issue 1, 2009

Domestic Violence and the Female Victim: The Real
Reason Women Stay!
Darrell Payne, Assistant Professo
r, Northern Kentucky University,
paynedar@nku.edu
Linda Wermeling, Assistant Professor,
Northern Kentucky University,
wermelingl@nku.edu

 Retrieved from the Law Library of Congress

September 20, 2010
Global Legal Monitor
http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/serlet/loc.news

Pictures