scholarly journals Domestic Violence as a Crime against the State: The Need for Mandatory Arrest in California

1997 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Machaela M. Hoctor
Partner Abuse ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-93
Author(s):  
Doris Sommer ◽  
Josefa Ros Velasco ◽  
Marco Abarca

Alarm spreads among potential victims of domestic violence as cases multiply during the confinement required by COVID19, and authorities face the growing frustration of not knowing how to respond. The question of what to do begs the question of why the lockdown increases domestic violence. Loss of jobs, alcohol, and psychological stress are reasonable answers; but they are predictable and don't suggest new approaches for remedy. This essay considers an unsuspected if obvious trigger of violence at home. Boredom. It is a stressor that becomes intolerable as the pandemic lockdown continues. Since boredom is a volatile condition associated with the lack of engagement, and since boredom is resolved either creatively or violently, an evident program for primary prevention would be to provide disgruntled and potentially aggressive intimate partners with engaging activities. These activities address a responsibility of the State. When the State turns homes into places of involuntary confinement, it levies serious limitations on a range of human rights. Therefore, the State's obligation to address risks, including boredom, is a corollary to restricting freedom of movement. Perhaps the strategy to provide programs will face objections and skepticism. Why should potential perpetrators of violence be beneficiaries of pleasurable programs? And how can pleasure be a remedy when it carries a stigma of irresponsibility or sin? But a practical response to the spike in domestic violence will have to overcome this irrational stigma to become more strategic than moralizing (Sommer, 2014). We should address the spiral of aggression in ways that are effective, not reactive.


Author(s):  
Natalie Nanasi

This chapter examines the tensions inherent in the U visa, a form of immigration relief that provides survivors of intimate partner violence a path to lawful status. Receipt of the U visa is contingent upon compulsory and continuing cooperation with law enforcement, which does not reflect the reality of the lives of many survivors of domestic violence, especially immigrant victims, who are uniquely unable, fearful or disinclined to engage with the state. As such, the vulnerabilities the U visa was intended to address are exacerbated and benefits to police and prosecutors are achieved at the expense of the victims Congress sought to protect.


Author(s):  
Kanika Kaul

Recent years have witnessed important changes in planning and budgetary processes in the country. The constitution of NITI Aayog in place of the Planning Commission, restructuring of the Union Budget following the Union Government’s acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations and measures undertaken for rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes have marked gender implications. They also have a bearing on public financing of government programmes in a range of sectors, including those meant to address violence against women. The analysis of schemes to address violence against women by state governments in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand presented in the chapter, reflects low priority towards the issue in the state budgets, indicating that the importance accorded to gender violence in policy discourse is yet to translate into budgetary priorities. The author concludes that budgetary dimensions of the state’s response to the issue require attention if we are to ensure a comprehensive response mechanism for women facing domestic violence.


Partner Abuse ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. Phillips ◽  
James Gillham

During the 1980s many state legislatures enacted laws to address domestic violence cases, including mandatory arrest and warrantless arrest in a misdemeanor domestic violence incident. The domestic violence arrest decision has been extensively examined, but this is not the final decision point for officers. This research examined police officers’ decisions when listing criminal charges in domestic violence incidents. Using a vignette research design, data come from 267 police officers in a large department. Most police officers listed the criminal charge that would be expected based on the conditions described in the vignette. Specific factors increased the likelihood of misdemeanor and felony level criminal charges being listed.


1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia I. Mignon ◽  
William M. Holmes

Mandatory arrest laws, although controversial, have gained support as one mechanism for reducing domestic violence. This research examines how police officers responded to mandatory arrest statutes. Twenty-four police departments produced data on interventions in 861 cases of domestic violence. Implementing a mandatory arrest law significantly increased arrests of offenders, especially those in violation of a restraining order. Arrest was affected by injury to the victim, use of a weapon, use of alcohol, and presence of a witness. Police training was crucial to the implementation of the mandatory arrest statute.


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