When Violence Hits Home: Domestic Abuse & Familes

When Violence Hits Home: Domestic Abuse & Families

Executive Summary

Domestic violence is a significant problem in the United States. A nationwide study found that one in four women has been abused by an intimate partner. Family violence has far-reaching societal repercussions. In addition to the victim, children in the home suffer due to exposure to violence, and are more likely to be mistreated. Businesses lose millions of dollars every year because employees who are victims are unable to work due to violence at home, and perpetrators lose their jobs because they are arrested and jailed. The public pays when law enforcement and court costs are incurred responding to domestic violence. In many cases, family violence causes poverty for women and children, who must depend on public funds for help. In addition, lives are ruined. Women sustain permanent physical or psychological injuries or die at the hands of their abusers. Men spend time in jail. Children exposed to domestic violence may suffer psychologically and physically, and may grow up to abuse their partners or be abused by them, thus perpetuating a cycle of violence.

Research shows that women in heterosexual relationships are far more likely than men to be abused, although some men are victims of domestic violence perpetrated by female partners. In a major study published by the National Institute of Justice, women were two to three times more likely than men to report that a partner committed a minor violent act, such as throwing something that could hurt or pushing, grabbing or shoving them. And, they were seven to 14 times more likely to report more serious violence: that an intimate partner beat them up, choked or tried to drown them, threatened them with a gun, or actually used a gun on them. In this publication, the author refers to domestic violence victims as women and uses feminine pronouns, except when specifically discussing male victims. This decision is not intended to downplay the seriousness of intimate partner violence committed against men. It reflects the reality of the situation for the majority of domestic violence victims.

Cycle of Violence

Researchers agree that men batter women in order to establish dominance and control within a relationship. Men use a number of tactics in addition to physical violence in order to control their partners, including emotional and psychological abuse, isolation and economic control. In many cases, men who batter also abuse alcohol or drugs. Women remain in violent relationships for a number of reasons. The main reason is safety - a woman's risk of being killed by her partner increases when she leaves the relationship. Many women stay with their batterers because they do not have the economic resources to take care of themselves and their children.

Public Response to Domestic Violence

Society did not see domestic violence as a significant public policy problem until the 1960s. Activists first organized shelters for victims of violence, and then began lobbying for changes in state and federal laws to help battered women and punish perpetrators. Currently, all states have a network of shelters for battered women. States have addressed domestic violence in criminal law and in family law, and have provided funding and services for battered women. In the early years of the battered women's movement, the laws sometimes were not effectively implemented and enforced. Advocates have promoted effective and consistent enforcement of domestic violence laws and educated officials about their importance. The federal government also has responded to the problem of domestic violence, most notably in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first passed in 1994, and reauthorized in 2000. Not only did the act increase and reorganize federal funds for domestic violence victims, but it also created federal domestic violence crimes.

Services for Families that Experience Violence

Most services for domestic violence victims are provided at the local level. Often, states provide funding and oversight. Common services include emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling and support groups, crisis hotlines, transitional housing, supervised visitation, parenting classes, and job training. Many communities also offer batterer intervention programs to help men change their abusive behavior. Service providers face a number of challenges, the most significant of which is a lack of adequate resources and funding. Programs struggle to provide the basic services needed by women attempting to escape abuse.

Domestic Violence and Children

Domestic violence can have a negative effect on children. Children in violent homes are more likely to be maltreated. Even when they are not, domestic violence can affect parents' ability to take care of their children. Children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to be aggressive themselves; exhibit depression, anxiety and fear; demonstrate lower cognitive ability, and may also display physical symptoms of stress. Historically, domestic violence advocates and child welfare workers have not worked well together to help families that are experiencing violence. Currently, a number of communities are working to improve the response for these families. State legislators have explored a number of policy responses, including amending custody laws to address domestic violence, enhancing penalties for batterers when children witness domestic violence, and redefining child maltreatment to include witnessing domestic violence. Lawmakers also have mandated training in domestic violence for child welfare workers, encouraged child welfare offices to locate domestic violence staff in their offices, funded supervised visitation centers, and provided services for children who witness domestic violence.

Overview

State legislators play a crucial role in ending the tragedy of family violence. Laws and programs to prosecute batterers and assisting women and children are primarily state and local in scope. This publication provides an overview of domestic violence and the public response, and explains the importance of state legislatures in preventing family violence.

Chapter one explores the prevalence of family violence and explains how it affects families and society. It describes some of the risk factors for becoming a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence, and it examines the dynamics of violent relationships.
Chapter two provides a brief overview of the history of domestic violence and the public response. It describes early legal and societal acceptance of family violence and the gradual change in attitudes toward domestic violence in the United States. It gives a brief overview of current federal and state laws regarding domestic violence.
Chapter three describes how domestic violence services currently are structured and funded. It explains the kinds of services available for battered women and their families and identifies challenges and problems facing the domestic violence community. It highlights programs and solutions that some providers are implementing and describes the role that policymakers play in addressing the needs of families that are experiencing domestic violence.
Chapter four focuses on domestic violence and children. It explores the connection between domestic violence and child abuse, describes the affects of domestic violence on children, and examines various state policy responses to this problem.

The purpose of this publication is to provide relevant information about domestic violence to lawmakers who can then make informed public policy decisions. To improve the lives of families, it is important that legislators understand how domestic violence affects families, what tools are available to respond to these families, and the potential consequences - both intended and unintended - of their policy decisions.

For more information on how to obtain this publication, contact our publications department or click here to order online.

For more information on domestic violence issues, please contact Stephanie Walton in the Denver office at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org or either Sheri Steisel or Lee Posey in the D.C. office at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org.