Domestic Violence Solution, Essay Example

Domestic violence can be defined as an outline of activities and behaviors whereby one partner tries to dictate and take control of the other through intimidation, threats, emotional harm and the use of physical force. Domestic violence occurs daily and includes forms like physical, financial and sexual abuse, neglect and maltreatment of children as well as elder abuse. It can also mean criminal coercion, endangerment, kidnapping, trespassing, stalking, unlawful imprisonment and harassment among others.

Unlike other crimes and offenses, domestic violence is habitually not an unexpected or a sudden incident. It may take years of psychological and emotional suffering as well as physical harm, which may occur frequently and develop to a more severe situation. Domestic violence has a distressing impact to those involved and exposed to such violence, for example, children experiencing it and living with it as witnesses. It is difficult to comprehend precisely how domestic violence is, because individuals usually don’t report it. Domestic Violence normally affects people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, educational and income levels. The consequences are that any kind of abusive behavior is never tolerable, whether it comes from an older adult, a man, woman or even a teenager. Everyone deserves to feel appreciated, respected and secure (Davis 10).

Effective Solution To Domestic Violence

There exists no simple solution to the issue of domestic violence since its removal requires transformations in the same nature of society. Unless individuals develop a sense of respect and recognition for others, domestic violence will still be there, and the weaker individuals of the society will mostly be the victims.

Recognizing abuse

Domestic violence often rises from verbal abuse and threats to violence. Physical injury is the obvious danger along psychological and emotional torture. Emotionally abusive relationships can lead to loss of self-esteem, depression, anxiety and makes one feel helpless. Nobody should bear this kind of torture; therefore, the first point is to known that the situation is abusive after which the individual is to accept the reality of the situation, and then seek the necessary help that is required.

Counselling

It is well-known that young adults and children raised in environments where violence is experienced are likely to become the perpetrators themselves or the victims. It is essential to break the sequence of such violent activities in these families where it occurs frequently. Therefore, counselling is the appropriate solution for all family members affected. Counselling may take forms such as methods of conflict management, anger control and negotiation among others. Community and society funding should be accessible so as to ensure ease of access to all those who require it (Davis, 280-288).

Education and Empowerment

The family is predominantly accountable for building an individual’s character. Therefore, it is from the same families that feelings of self worth, conflict resolutions skills and respect for others are developed. In this case, it is essential that support is offered to families in enabling them nurture these vital qualities. If such qualities are not developed early enough, it will be very difficult to instill them later. The most considerable issue is to empower young children to decline violence psychologically.

Sanctions

Violent behavior demeans the perpetrator and injures the victims. In a situation where the abuser seeks for help to control his/her behavior, help ought to be available. It should be provided and not be seen as a form of punishment for the crime.  The society or community should recognize the unlawful nature of domestic violence and settle on the appropriate corrective sanctions to it (Lee 6-50).

Developing a safety plan

When violent behavior occurs, it is useful to have a strategy of dealing with a crisis or emergency. It is necessary for people to think of ways and means of providing a safer environment for themselves and their children. The victims involved must plan on how to get out of their homes securely and speedily, so that once violence begins, they may do so. Such a plan needs to consider several important details, for example, where to keep keys and extra clothes among others, for a speedy departure (Buzawa 36-54).

Intervention orders and legal framework

Intervention orders are vital legal mechanisms in managing domestic violence. Once an order is given out, it should contain the information about the possibility of counselling also being offered. If an order is contravened, attendance at counselling must be compulsory in addition to any corrective sanctions. Better sanctioning penalties, legal framework and providing protection ought to evolve where none exists (Davis 280-290).

Call for help

It is also necessary for children to know how to use a telephone so that in case of an emergency they can call the fire department or even the police. Since domestic violence is a crime, people should not fear to ask for assistance. This is because calling the police officers can make an abuser to consider the matter before using any violence in the future. The work of the police is to investigate the matter and make any relevant arrests. They will also prepare a report of abuse and alternatively provide the casualty with referral information for domestic violence services in the area. It is crucial for victims involved as well as their relatives, neighbors or even friends of the victims to call the police officers for help (Sizemore, 3).

Seek community help

Several services are available to help the families that struggle with domestic violence. People should make use of the various programs in the community/society and the domestic violence hotlines. Such resources offer emergency referrals and shelter as well as counselling. The victims involved may seek for support from the local police department, from their churches or even agencies of domestic violence.

Seek medical treatment

Several injuries require medical attention. Sexually or physically abused victims need to visit a physician for a complete medical assessment. A medical report, which documents the injured person, may be relevant in any legal situation. If possible, it is also important for the physician to take color photographs of the victims injured.

Conclusion

The consequences of domestic violence in the society are undoubtedly enormous and immeasurable. The effects are seen in the entire nation, for example, in schools, jails etc. The effects can be seen in people’s faces at home, work or even on the streets. Pessimism, hopelessness, meanness and hard-headedness are what individuals experience on their day to day activities. People need to think about the price of domestic violence in terms of cents and dollars, which is indeed devastating and demoralizing. The abused victims need counselling and medical care for full medical assessment (McCue, 206).

There is a huge cost to the entire nation in the form of time and resources spent by the law enforcement officials, lawyers, public health workers and many others. There is the cost to the social organizations in the form of counselling, money used, time, hotline services and many more. Furthermore, there is also the cost to the productivity and efficiency of work place in form of worker re-training, absenteeism and decreased productivity. The system of education is required to offer dedicated services to children and young adults who are suffering from behavioral problems, which result from domestic violence.

Works cited

Bogue, Ellie. “Domestic Violence Awareness Month Draws Attention to Persistent Problem.”   McClatchy – Tribune Business NewsOct 09 2012. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

Buzawa, Eva S, Carl G. Buzawa, Evan Stark, and Eva S. Buzawa. Responding to Domestic  Violence: The Integration of Criminal Justice and Human Services. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications, 2012. Print.

Davis, Richard L. Domestic Violence: Intervention, Prevention, Policies, and Solutions. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2008. Print.

Dixon, Ken. “Solutions Sought by Task Force to Stem Domestic Violence.” McClatchy – Tribune          Business NewsDec 01 2009. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

Harne, Lynne, and Jill Radford. Tackling Domestic Violence: Theories, Policies and Practice.   Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press, 2008. Print.

http://www.aaets.org/article145.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279919/

Lee, Mo Y, John Sebold, and Adriana Uken. Solution-focused Treatment of Domestic Violence Offenders: Accountability for Change. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

McCue, Margi L. Domestic Violence: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO,          2008. Print.

Sizemore, Nola. “Domestic Violence Victims Get a Special make-Over.” McClatchy – Tribune   Business NewsJun 30 2010. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

Twigg, Tim, and Rebecca Crane. “Ending the Silence on Domestic Violence in the Workplace.”            Dental Economics 99.5 (2009): 33-4. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.