The History of Domestic Violence
From Earlier Days, to the More Recent Ways to Deal With Family Abuse
Domestic Abuse Changes Have Occurred over Time in the Public's Perception, Police Intervention Policies, and the Courts' Response to the Crimes.
In the United States, Public Awareness of the Domestic Abuse problem became well known during the women’s movement of the 1970s, which changed the course of history.
Power and Control
As known by most, Domestic Violence is a crime of power and control. Abusers are known to deal with their own inadequacies and insecurities by taking control of others in the home.
This way of life is nothing new to humans. It has gone on for hundreds of years. In earlier years of recorded history, beliefs that helped form the subordination of women also helped the course of action of Domestic Violence. Countries where these beliefs were held higher than other countries had more Domestic Violence incidents.
Shelters Open for Victims
In 1974, the first shelter for battered women was established. Opening the shelter led to the establishment of hundreds of shelters and domestic violence programs throughout the United States. These programs provide emotional, financial, and vocational assistance to domestic violence survivors and their children. Sometimes legal assistance and support is even provided.
During the 1970s and earlier, police officers responding to reports of Domestic Disturbances handled the calls by getting the stories (separately) of those involved, and trying to treat the situations with Band-Aids. To do so they would talk to the people to calm them. Then, they would warn each person involved to make sure that they (the police) did not have to return to the home for intervention in such problems. Sometimes they would ensure that there would not be further problems by threatening the parties with arrest.
Changes in Police Response
By the 1990s, the law enforcement community started to view Domestic Violence as the serious problem that it really is. Police protocol changed and arrest (of only one of the parties) became "the preferred response" to Domestic Violence calls.
Officers were taught not to threaten with arrest, but to make an arrest. The idea behind the new protocol was to save lives; a person in jail cannot harm or kill another. In some states laws were enacted that held police officers personally liable if they failed to arrest, and it resulted in a victim later being killed or injured. The states would levy fines of up one thousand dollars on each officer who failed to follow the new regulations.
Additionally, police officers were given the authority to issue Temporary Restraining Orders in emergency situations when the courts were not open. A violator of a Restraining Order could then be arrested, and held without bail.
Court Rulings
The courts held stricter enforcement of the law by giving defendants 6-month jail sentences for first-time offenses. But, many of those sentences were suspended if the defendant’s record was clean in all other areas. Still, prosecution was easier because a violation of probation would net the abuser the originally imposed 6-month sentence.
Domestic Violence Enforcement has come a long way since the days when police would leave a house after telling the occupants, "Everyone behave and get along now."
Related articles:
The Problem of Domestic Violence
Effects of Domestic Violence: How Victims Respond to Abuse in the Home
Sources:
June 15, 1999 by Mary Zahm, Ph.D.
Image credit: Australian Institute of Criminology
