DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: AN AMERICAN HORROR STORY

Abstract

Domestic violence has a deep and complex history in the United States of America. From the first settlers that arrived in America, to our current legal system, the court of law’s response to domestic violence has evolved over time. Until the 1970s, domestic violence was often ignored or dismissed by law enforcement, and victims had few legal remedies. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a growing recognition of the alarming dangers of domestic violence and a movement to reform laws to protect victims from further subjugation and dismissal. Many states enacted laws that criminalized domestic violence, provided restraining orders, and increased penalties for abusers. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed by Congress in 1994, provided funding for the development of victim services and support, and it strengthened federal penalties for domestic violence. However, despite these reforms, domestic violence remains a widespread problem. Domestic violence is an alarming issue that affects many women in the United States of America.While progress has been made in addressing domestic violence, there are many systemic issues that allows abusers to be able to slip through the cracks of our justice system. While there is still much work to be done to prevent and correct this pervasive problem, the prevalence of domestic abuse remains. It is crucial we enact legislative change to resolve the issue of domestic violence in the United States of America.