Victims of Domestic Violence
In this paper, I will describe the people who suffer from domestic violence. There are not just women suffering from this, men also suffer from household violence. Social work suggests that society ought to pursue a policy to strengthen relationships, assist with counseling, understand mediation, and apply restorative justice practices, as treating domestic violence primarily as a mental health issue, and only secondarily as a criminal justice issue, offers a better chance to stop this scourge. Domestic violence, as it is associated with poverty and lower educational attainment, disproportionately affects people of color and minority cultural groups. Understanding the laws related to domestic violence, and how those laws may be changing, will help us to support victims of domestic violence. In particular, I'm interested in policies concerning domestic violence that offer cash or in-kind assistance to those who are escaping from domestic violence.
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
This act is to assist the victims that have suffered from crimes, it and helps them restore their lives. The grant that is provided is in the amount of 2.7 million dollars, and this provides many supports for victims throughout different states. This provides shelter support, crisis counseling, referrals, and other services. Such services may be provided by volunteers or private agencies (often non-profit), and services cannot discriminate against the victims. There are VOCA funds that will provide financial assistance and reimbursement to victims of crime.
These funds help victims that have suffered child abuse, sexual abuse, or spousal abuse. VOCA focuses on inventions that will strengthen relationships with people that combat intimate partner violence. This is a valuable source of support for the victims and will help strengthen them in their recovery. This is provided in each State Administration Agency across the country.
Violence against Women Act (VAWA)
This act is to support women that have or still suffering from domestic violence. This provides legal assistance, training for law enforcement, transitional housing, crisis intervention, dating violence, domestic, sexual assault, stalking. The Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) provides funding directly to the states and they are responsible for distributing the funds to each program.
The state is responsible for providing 25% of the funds to law enforcement and prosecutors, 30% for victims, and 5% to state and local courts. This act also focuses on engaging men and boys as allies to strengthen interventions under the discretionary grant program. OVW work towards improving services to underserved populations and this is a benefit to ensure everyone can receive this assistance.
Barth and Jiranek states, “The OVW grant solicitation enumerates various practices and procedures that jeopardize victim safety each year. The 2022 solicitation explains that "OVW does not fund activities that jeopardize victims’ safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions" (FY 2022 Solicitation Companion Guide, [82], p.17) (1)”.
Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA) (2019)
This act supports services to victims of domestic violence and survivors throughout the United States. In 2019 this act distributed $180 million to combat IPV, $10.3 million to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, $164 million to shelters and services, and $5.5 million to support the CDC’s DELTA Impact program. This was improved by Congress in 2019 increases funding, expand support to culturally specific, and invest in prevention programs.
This act brings information into the communities throughout the United States to assistant in prevention initiatives. The funds that are distributed assist with promoting healthy relationships, positive development, and communities.
Barth and Jiranek state, “On March 23, 2021, Congresswomen Lucy McBath of Georgia, re-introduced a bill proposing amendments to the FVPSA. Importantly, the Bill has put forth language stressing the importance of healthy relationship building, serving as a significant potential avenue to funding”.
Additional Avenues for States to Support Relationship Strengthening Programs
There are categories that offenders are scored on based previous domestic violence. They
are ranked by being examined to determine the level of risk such as: suicidal/homicidal tendencies, use of weapons, obsession with victim. This is determined through evidence-based research and the assessment tool is what assigns the offenders their score.
Barth and Jiranek states, “The DVRNA is composed of fourteen domains of risk most predictive of future violence (1)”.
[Under additional ways states support relationships and prevent violence, I was expecting you to mention the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). It seems that you instead are saying that many caseworkers and domestic violence interventions use the Domestic Violence Risk and Needs Assessment (DVRNA), a standardized tool where someone can rate various situations and determine the risk of violence. ]
In Conclusion
I do support these laws: the reason is that I was a woman that suffered domestic violence. This is something that I did not know about—I had no idea that there were agencies that assisted people that suffered through domestic violence. This is a great opportunity for victims of violence to get back on their feet and restart their lives. Surviving through violence affects more than your physical well-being, it affects your mental state, as well. The bruises on the outside will heal but the internal affect is long standing. Depending on the amount abuse that you suffered, determines the amount of therapy that you may need.
References
Barth, Richard P. and Jiranek, Harriet C. (2023). Strengthening Relationships between Couples to Respond to Domestic Violence: a Commentary on Policy Changes Needed to Support this Evolution. Journal of Family Violence. May2023, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p761-774. 14p.
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