essay on violence in the family

Essay on Family Violence

In the United States, family violence covers a range of behaviors committed by an individual against a family member. All the behaviors aim at controlling a family member through fear and include economic abuse, intentionally damaging property of a family member, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and any other behavior that makes a family member feel that their security is jeopardized. Violence is a reality in many households across the globe. Additionally, an act of violence occurs if a kid sees, hears, or lives in a family that experiences violence. The law safeguards that kid and family member who was the victim of the violence. Family violence can affect anyone irrespective of their location, status, wealth, religion, ability, cultural background, sexual identity, gender, or age. Family violence is among the main factors to illness, disability, and even death to women aged 15 to 44 years. Family violence is an essential social issue since it has a large negative effect on the victims. Even though either females or males can cause family violence, it is normally caused by a male because of large physical identity.

Family violence is intimidation, force, threats, or violence to manipulate or control a partner or a family member. There is a significant gap in such relationships as far as power is concerned where violence or abusive behavior is used to control others. Research by Fitz-Gibbon et al. (2018) has revealed that men are the most the perpetrators of family violence, and women and children are the victims. One in three women across the globe experience violence from their partners. Family violence can occur in any relationship, including between homosexual, and heterosexual relationships, family members, couples, and against persons who are disabled or elderly. Family violence can affect every person irrespective of their economic or social status or cultural and racial background.

Causes of Family Violence

Family violence is all about control and power. Abuse can be experienced by anyone irrespective of religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race. Being hurt by a spouse or an intimate partner can be a very traumatizing and confusing experience for victims. Persons on the outside might wonder why victims do not “simply go away.” Still, violent or abusive relationships are often marked by complicated dynamics that make it complex when it comes to getting away. Additionally, despite cultural and societal stigma around who may experience family violence can occur to anyone. About ten million people in the United States experience family violence annually. If you are going through family violence, you mustn’t be at fault for your partner’s behavior. Victims of family violence do not make their abusers punish or target them with psychological or physical abuse. Perpetrators use family violence as a tool for gaining control and power over their targets. Family violence is a choice on the part of the perpetrator. However, some underlying aspects may at times contribute to the propensity of a person. Family violence causes worsened physical and psychological health, decreased quality of life, decreased productivity, and mortality in some cases. It can be complex to identify. Many cases of family violence are not reported to legal authorities or healthcare providers. It is normally the victimization of a person with whom the perpetrator takes advantage of their victim in the quest of having control and power over them.

The rates of family violence are higher in remote, rural, and regional areas. Social and geographical frameworks in these societies and unique social norms and values result in particular experiences of family violence. The issues mentioned above affect responses to family violence in rural societies and the ability of women to look for help and access services. Poor understanding of family violence by legal, social, and health services in remote, rural, and regional communities has been identified as an important matter as far as victims of family violence are concerned. It is complex when it comes to ascertaining accurate rates of family violence in any context since most victims do not report the cases to the authorities. Additionally, family violence is less likely to be disclosed to involved parties in non-urban communities. However, several types of research have revealed that women in remote, rural, and regional areas are more likely to have experienced family violence from their partners. Straus & Smith (2017) pointed out that the higher rates of family violence in non-urban communities were most times due to the higher indigenous population in the areas mentioned above. On the other hand, in recent research, most family violence cases in the United States included certain predominantly white agricultural areas. Family violence has to be understood in the context of a history of colonization, discrimination, racism, forced child removal, and the resulting intergenerational trauma from this history. There are many shared aims in victims of family violence and the barriers to leaving a toxic relationship between victims in rural societies and victims from other geographical areas. These include family pressure to remain in a relationship, limited means of leaving, economic concerns, and fear of the partner’s threat as if they move from a relationship. On the other hand, there are geographical and social issues that are particular to the experience of family violence for victims living in rural areas.

Interventions to Address Family Violence

In today’s world, most societal efforts to address family violence in the United States have focused on crisis intervention through community organizations. While the agencies mentioned above offer important help when addressing family violence, this is at most times only appealed for the greatest cases. Government apparatus rely on notification of family violence from outside sources. Consequently, they might be responding to only ten percent of family violence cases. Healthcare professionals are in a good position to affect victims of family violence before the abuse goes to unmanageable levels. Healthcare professionals come into contact with victims of family violence for routine healthcare services. The victims visit healthcare facilities to seek routine treatment (Segrave et al., 2020). As a result, healthcare providers can help the victims to seek help from the involved parties so that perpetrators can be made to face the full force of the law. They are in a good position of engaging in early identification, support, and referral of victims before the abuse reaches unmanageable levels (Douglas & Nagesh, 2021). When we talk about family violence, we normally think about family violence, yet the experience of abuse affects spiritual, social, and mental health equally. There is nothing new when it comes to family violence (Bozzay et al., 2020). What is new in violence within families is to treat it as a health issue and develop interventions and policies to prevent it from taking place. The guidelines mentioned above are part of that emerging intervention structure. Healthcare professionals are progressively recognized as having an important part in the early intervention and avoidance of violence within families. In the United States, health strategy and consultation with clients, family violence has been regularly positioned as among the top priorities for social workers and healthcare professionals to address.

Long-term Outcomes of Family Violence

If you are a victim of family violence, it can hurt you in numerous ways – sexually, emotionally, socially, mentally, physically, and more. Additionally, family violence may affect the relationship you have with other family members. It can have a significant impact on the love and attention needed by the family members mentioned above. If you are in the situation mentioned above, you need to be aware that family violence is not your fault. The perpetrators of family violence are responsible for it and how it affects the day-to-day activities with other family members (Fitz-Gibbon et al., 2018). Family violence has a significant effect on the relationship with other family members. This can occur if the perpetrator uses emotional abuse to undermine the relationship with other family members. The perpetrator may use family violence to say nasty things to other family members, force them to disobey others, and prevent them from being happy (Douglas & Kerr, 2018). Additionally, it might affect the mental health of the victims. It is common for persons subjected to family violence to go through sleep problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, anxiety, depression, and self-medication with substance abuse. Family abuse has numerous serious impacts on households. It can result in injury or even death in extreme cases.

Additionally, it can result in ongoing issues for family members living or have lived in a violent family. A person who has lived in a violent home learns to address their issues violently instead of developing strategies for solving problems amicably. Some long-term effects include copying violent means and behaving similarly when faced with stressful issues (Reeves, 2020). They might learn that there is no problem behaving in a manner that is degrading to other persons, as they have seen this occur in the violent situations they witnessed. Proper counseling and support will help them to learn how to treat others with respect and trust. Some people who depend on alcohol and other drugs cannot relate with other family members with the necessary respect. For some, drug and alcohol dependence is overwhelming to the extent that it takes priority over everything else without excluding looking after the needs of other family members. It is important to note that family violence does not resolve itself. If you look for reinforcement to take action against family violence, it shows other family members that abuse is unacceptable and should be brought to an end. Social workers and other involved parties can help stop family violence at the end of the day. In other words, victims of family violence should seek the assistance of social workers trained to help them overcome the experience they have been made to go through by their perpetrators. Reports of family violence continue.

Reports of family violence continue to strain the capacity of medical facilities, social services agencies, courts, and law enforcement agencies. Simultaneously, many prevention and treatment programs are offering services to perpetrators and victims. Limited research knowledge exists concerning the efficiency of the programs mentioned above. However, such information is inaccessible, scattered, and complex when it comes to getting it. Social workers and other involved parties aim to increase the uptake and evidence-based health promotion interventions and programs that are important for the prevention and looking at the issues that contribute to family violence (Reeves, 2020). The programs mentioned above are meant to prevent and address family violence and support the health of the victims. The programs should have the capacity to support scale-up and sustainability of strategies that are thought to be effective.

In summary, in the United States, family violence covers a range of behaviors committed by an individual against a family member. All the behaviors aim at controlling a family member through fear and include economic abuse, intentionally damaging property of a family member, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and any other behavior that makes a family member feel that their security is jeopardized. Violence is a reality in many households across the globe. Additionally, an act of violence occurs if a kid sees, hears, or lives in a family that experiences violence. The law safeguards that kid and family member who was the victim of the violence. Family violence can affect anyone irrespective of their location, status, wealth, religion, ability, cultural background, sexual identity, gender, or age.

Bozzay, M. L., Joy, L. N., & Verona, E. (2020). Family violence pathways and externalizing behavior in youth. Journal of interpersonal violence, 35(23-24), 5726-5752.

Douglas, H., & Kerr, K. (2018). Domestic and Family Violence, Reproductive Coercion and the Role for Law. Journal of law and medicine, 26(2), 341-355.

Douglas, H., & Nagesh, R. (2021). Domestic and family violence, child support and ‘the exemption’. Journal of Family Studies, 27(4), 540-555.

Fitz-Gibbon, K., Elliott, K., & Maher, J. (2018). Investigating adolescent family violence in Victoria: Understanding experiences and practitioner perspectives. Monash University.

Reeves, E. (2020). Family violence, protection orders, and systems abuse: views of legal practitioners. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 32(1), 91-110.

Segrave, M., Hedwards, B., & Tyas, D. (2020). Family violence and exploitation: Examining the contours of violence and exploitation. The Palgrave International Handbook of Human Trafficking, 437-450.

Straus, M. A., & Smith, C. (2017). Family patterns and primary prevention of family violence. In Physical violence in American families (pp. 507-526). Routledge.

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• Family Essays

Family violence Essay

Until recently, the family setting was a safe haven for people and crime only happened in the streets. However, this reality has been distorted by the rising crimes that occur in homes among family members (Pagelow & Pagelow, 1984). The family law action and the family violence refer to the aspects of family violence ant the courts role in dealing with violators of this law. This is a bid to protect the innocence of the children. The family law act 1975 section (60 b) stipulates underlying principles that promote their interests. It “protects children from physical and psychological harm, from being subjected to or exposed to abuse, neglect or family violence”.

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According to Barnet et al. (2011), family violence refers to violence between family member’s i.e. husbands, wives, children and parents. The APA dictionary of psychology defines domestic violence as “any action by a person that causes physical harm to one or more members of his or her family unit” (p.23).Family violence can be learned through cultural values which are repeatedly communicated through media and institutions that tolerate it. Alcohol and drug abuse could be another force of family violence. According to Halter & Varcarolis (2014), alcohol and drugs cloud one’s judgment (p. 540). However; alcohol could be used as a scapegoat to avoid arrests and punishment when caught in the act. Anger is another force that could cause people to be entrapped in family violence. Lack of skills to handle anger and stress may cause overwhelming problems for both victim and perpetrator as forms of communications may have broken down (p.11). Psychological conditions such as bipolar may contribute to cases of violence. Such conditions should be treated and people informed of the condition in case of an attack.

In all different cases discussed above aggression stands out as perpetrators of violence use this tool to overpower their victims. It is also important for afflicted families and individuals to come out and seek the protection of the law and access counseling services.

Physical child abuse

The children’s act 38 of 2005 gives clear outlines children’s rights and parents responsibilities towards children. The law has provisions of protection against physical child abuse. Many facets have been associated with child abuse. These include individual pathology, parent –child interaction, past abuse in the family and situational factors. (Bryant, 2011) discusses different theories of physical abuse according to Crosson-Tower (2008) which are linked to the children’s act of 2005.

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The pathology theory focuses on the idea that abusers have personality or biology makeup issues. The issues may include anger control problems, low tolerance for frustrations, rigidity or being disorganized. Such instances point to parent’s failure to manage their lives, therefore, intruding into their children’s lives. Such parents may not be in a position to empathize with their children and expose them to ridicule and physical punishment. Parent child relationship theory explains the types of parents who are prone to abuse their children and children likely to be abused. So parents concentrate on children’s the wrong instead of achievements and offer no praise. In this theory, the child may assume the responsibility of the care giver .The less skilled parent has a negative perception of the child and sees nothing in them.

Social learning or past abuse theory concentrates not only on what children learn or experience but also what they do not learn as a result of the experiences. The abusive parents become role models. Such children believe that violence is acceptable as a method of child rearing and discipline, (Crosson-Tower, 2008). It is crucial to note that not all children in abusive homes become abusive in their later years. Those who break the cycle maintain a healthy relation with those that supported them emotionally while growing up.

Child sexual abuse

Every society has established rules that govern mating or sexual intercourse. The prohibition to mate with certain relatives is known as an incest taboo. The most universal form of an incest taboo involves mating between members of the nuclear family. The protection of children from sexual offenses Act, 2012 is a comprehensive law provided to protect children from all forms of violence by incorporating friendly mechanisms to report, record, and investigate and trial of offences through special courts.

The inbreeding theory explains the existence of the incest taboo focuses on and the potential harm it causes to the family. The theory was proposed before the introduction genetics which holds that mating between family members may produce children with genetic defects. Evidence to support this information is lacking. Outbreeding which is practiced by human populations has positive benefits such as an increase in genetic variation, improved health and lower rates of mortality. This is because the inbreeding theory elicits different views among the legislatures. The theory focuses on the biological consequences of incest (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2010).

The family disruption theory associated to Bronislaw Malinowski, 1927 holds that mating between mother and son, brother and sister, father and daughter will lead to jealousy and disrupt the family’s ability to function as a unit. For example if this kind of arrangements would be allowed, it would unhealthy competition for sexual satisfaction leading to conflict. This theory originated to repress sexual urges within the nuclear family. This also would cause the problem of the role ambiguity within a family setting. The theory holds that there is more to be gained when one marries from another group. Marrying from different families strengthens social ties. This theory endeavors to create a wider social network of inter family alliances (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2010).

Characteristics of a spousal abuser

The family act of 1975 shields victims of violence from violent actions by abusers. In this case, we will discuss the spousal abusers. The perpetrators have low self-esteem and build dependency on women perceived as ‘winner’ and gain satisfaction through their partner’s accomplishments. When they lose control they dominate and feel superior to their women. In such scenarios, the abuser is comfortable in isolation and may have difficulties in building and maintaining close and personal ties within the family and outside.

The perpetrators are also traditional in that they believe in the patriarchal system, male supremacy and stereotyped the masculinity. They have authoritarian styles of leadership in the family and esteem persons of higher authority. They are very moody and may pose as loving husbands, mothers and sometimes with no apparent reasons revert to anger. This is sometimes referred to as dual personalities where a victim’s mood suddenly changes. In this state, they are unable to express their feelings. They are often unemployed, underemployed or are dissatisfied with their jobs. They may also be very unproductive and unorganized when executing their work. This causes problems in the work place as they pass off as unreliable and demotivated in their duties (Pagelow & Pagelow, 1984).

Abusers lack assertiveness which results to aggression to get what they want. They lack a sense of direction which makes it difficult for people to get reach them. In some instances the aggressor may result to absconding all his duties due to the belief of being inefficient and unproductive. The aggressors shift to alcohol and are highly dependent. Alcohol helps the aggressor to escape from troubles. If the aggressor was socialized or brought up where alcohol consumption was associated with drunken behavior (Pagelow & Pagelow, 1984).

Criminal justice response to partner violence

Historically, the criminal justice failed to adequately respond to domestic violence acts within homes. To rectify this situation pro arrest policies were initiated by law enforcement agencies due to activism by feminist groups reacting to police inaction. The changes made in the 1980’s focused on the impact of pro arrest when dealing with battered women. The crime of intimate violence then was largely viewed as a private issue rather than a social problem as legal and social institutions preferred the hands-off-approach (Schmidt, & Sherman 1996).

The Minneapolis domestic violence that sort to evaluate the effectiveness of police responses was implemented in 1981-1982 by Lawrence Sherman who was director of the police foundation. The design called the police to randomly select three categories of offenders who would face arrest, forced separation from their spouse and forced counseling. The findings for this response bent towards arrest as the more effective response. Those that faced arrest had lower rates of committing the offence again as opposed to those who went through counseling or spouses separated from them (Sherman &Cohn, 1989).

Sherman & Cohn (1989) hold that the subsequent experiments commissioned by the institute of justice were required to address domestic violence incidents that drew police attention. They were also to use see repeat offenders determine the extent and use arrests as one of the treatments. The results from these tests showed variation as no one state recorded similar results as Minneapolis. The different results recorded were as a result of sites studied, the alternative treatments that were compared to arrests and many more factors. The sites studied include Nebraska, charlotte, Wisconsin, Miami-Dade county, Colorado among others (p.117-144).

Barnett, O. W., Miller-Perrin, C. L., & Perrin, R. D. (2011). Family violence across the lifespan: An introduction. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

Bryant, C. D. (2011). The Routledge handbook of deviant behaviour. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Crosson-Tower, C. (2008). Understanding child abuse and neglect. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

Ferraro, G. P., & Andreatta, S. (2010).Cultural anthropology: an applied perspective (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Halter, M. J., & Varcarolis, E. M. (2014). Varcarolis’ foundations of psychiatric mental health

nursing: A clinical approach. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier.

Pagelow, M. D., & Pagelow, L. W. (1984). Family violence. New York: Praeger.

Schmidt, J. D., & Sherman, L. W. (1996). Does arrest deter domestic violence. Do arrests and restraining orders work, 43.

Sherman, L. W., & Cohn, E. G. (1989). The impact of research on legal policy: The Minneapolis domestic violence experiment. Law and Society Review, 117-144.

The Family Law Act and family violence. (n.d.). The Family Law Act and family violence.

Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://www.familylawcourts.gov.au/wps/w

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Domestic Abuse: Types, Causes, and Impact

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Yolanda Renteria, LPC, is a licensed therapist, somatic practitioner, national certified counselor, adjunct faculty professor, speaker specializing in the treatment of trauma and intergenerational trauma.

Boy_Anupong / Getty Images

• Supporting Someone

Domestic abuse , also known as domestic violence or family abuse, is a pattern of behavior that is used to hurt, terrorize, manipulate, or gain control over a family member.

Domestic abuse may be perpetrated by any member of the household, such as an intimate partner, parent, child, sibling, relative, or staff member. When domestic abuse is perpetrated by an intimate partner, it is referred to as intimate partner violence. When a child is a victim of domestic abuse, it is referred to as child abuse .

People from marginalized groups are at greater risk of experiencing abuse. However, it’s important to recognize that anyone can be a victim of abuse, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, or faith.

Domestic abuse and intimate partner violence are serious public health issues globally. In fact, it is believed that domestic abuse is the most prevalent but least reported crime in the United States.

This article explores the types, causes, signs, and impact of domestic abuse, as well as some ways to support someone who has been abused.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates. 

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 . For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database .

Types of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can take many forms. These are some of the different types of domestic abuse:

• Physical abuse , which is when someone harms the other person’s body, causing them to experience pain or suffer physical injuries. Physical abuse includes slapping, beating, hitting, kicking, punching, pinching, biting, choking, pushing, grabbing, shaking, or burning another person.
• Sexual abuse , which includes any form of touching or sexual contact without the other person’s explicit consent. Sexual abuse also includes any form of sexual contact between an adult and a person below the age of 18 .
• Emotional or psychological abuse , which includes yelling, cursing, name-calling, bullying, coercing, humiliating, gaslighting, harassing, infantilizing , threatening, frightening, isolating, manipulating, or otherwise controlling another person. Emotional/psychological abuse can be just as harmful as sexual or physical abuse.
• Neglect , which involves failing to provide a child or a dependent adult with necessities such as food, water, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision. Neglect can also be emotional, which involves failing to provide love, care, and emotional support to a family member.
• Financial abuse , which involves taking control of an individual's finances by controlling their income, restricting their ability to work, or accumulating debts in their name.
• Cultural identity abuse , which involves using aspects of a person's cultural identity to cause pain. This might involve threatening to out a person as LGBTQ+, using racial or ethnic slurs, or not permitting the person to practice traditions and customs of their faith.
• Technological abuse , which involves using technology as a means to threaten, stalk, harass, and abuse the other person. Examples of this form of abuse include using tracking devices to monitor someone's movements or online activities and demanding to have access to the person's social media or email accounts.
• Immigration abuse , which involves inflicting harm on a person by using their immigration status to threaten or restrict aspects of their life. Examples of this might involve threatening the individual's family members, destroying or hiding their immigration papers, and threatening to have them deported.

Signs of Domestic Abuse

It’s important to recognize domestic abuse because the victims are our friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors.

These are some of the signs that someone is experiencing domestic abuse:

• Being upset or agitated
• Being withdrawn or unresponsive
• Exhibiting signs of fear or nervousness around certain people
• Displaying sudden changes in behavior or unusual behaviors
• Having injuries such as cuts, bruises, black eyes, or broken bones
• Having bruises, bleeding, torn clothes, or bloodstains around genital areas
• Being dehydrated, malnourished, or unkempt
• Living in unsafe or unsanitary conditions
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing or sunglasses to cover up bruising
• Having unusual eating or sleeping habits
• Being extremely meek and apologetic
• Losing interest in daily activities
• Isolating from friends and family

Causes of Domestic Abuse

Research suggests that there are a number of different factors that contribute to the prevalence of domestic violence:

• Cultural factors: Historically, many patriarchal cultures have permitted the beating and chastising of women and children, who are viewed as a man’s property. Additionally, the concept of a woman’s sexuality is often tied to the family’s honor. Therefore, any actions or behaviors by a woman that are perceived as acts of dishonor toward the family are met with judgment and abuse.
• Legal factors: Law enforcement agencies tend to treat domestic abuse as a private family matter and sometimes hesitate to intervene or get involved. Acts of domestic abuse are often treated with more leniency than crimes committed by strangers. In fact, sexual abuse by intimate partners is not even recognized as a crime in many cultures.
• Economic factors: Lack of economic resources is often associated with domestic abuse.
• Environmental factors: People who have grown up in abusive environments and witnessed or experienced abuse as children may be more likely to perpetrate domestic abuse as adults. This is referred to as the intergenerational cycle of abuse .
• Social factors: Society still tends to blame victims for being abused, which can make it difficult for them to come forward and report their abusers. Victims are often scrutinized minutely, and any imperfections are held against them.
• Substance use: Excessive use of substances such as alcohol and drugs can lead to domestic abuse.

Impact of Domestic Abuse

Being abused can cause a person to:

• Think they did something to deserve the abuse
• Believe they are unwanted and unworthy of love or respect
• Feel guilty or ashamed
• Feel helpless and powerless
• Feel used , controlled, or manipulated
• Be terrified of doing something that will upset their abuser
• Behave differently in order to avoid upsetting their abuser
• Have difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or participating in activities they once enjoyed
• Develop mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety
• Develop physical health conditions such as heart disease, digestive issues, muscle and bone conditions, fertility problems, and nervous system disorders
• Feel responsible for regulating the emotions and behaviors of their abuser
• Feel hypervigilant and like they are constantly walking on eggshells
• Not feel good enough or capable to make it on their own
• Constantly doubt their perception and their decisions

Experiencing domestic abuse can cause physical and mental health issues that persist long after the abuse stops.

Supporting Someone Who Has Been Abused

These are some ways to support someone who has been abused:

• Listen to the person and believe them
• Honor where they are in their process and don't push your personal views
• Offer assistance and let them know they’re not alone
• Help them note down all the details they can remember
• Remind them that they’re not to blame for anything that has happened to them
• Encourage them to seek professional support, either through a confidential hotline or via other medical or mental healthcare providers
• Encourage them to speak up about the abuse and report their abuser to the authorities, because keeping it secret only protects their abuser
• Respect whatever choice they make and let them know you'll be there for them regardless of what they decide

A Word From Verywell

Domestic abuse can take many different shapes and forms. It can be extremely traumatic to experience, leaving behind physical wounds, emotional scars, and health issues. It can affect every aspect of the person’s life and make it difficult for them to function.

Recovery takes time, but speaking up about the abuse, leaving an abusive situation , and seeking treatment are important steps that can help.

United Nations. What is domestic abuse?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing intimate partner violence .

Li S, Zhao F, Yu G. Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis . Child Abuse Negl . 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012

City Government of Annapolis, Maryland. Myths about domestic violence .

Nemours Foundation. Abuse .

Women Against Abuse. Types of abuse .

Department of Human Services. Domestic violence crisis and prevention .

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Types and signs of abuse .

Yakubovich AR, Stöckl H, Murray J, Melendez-Torres GJ, Steinert JI, Glavin CEY, Humphreys DK. Risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence against women: Systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective-longitudinal studies . Am J Public Health . 2018;108(7):e1-e11. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304428

Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD. Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence . Clin Psychol Rev . 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Emotional and verbal abuse .

Malik M, Munir N, Ghani MU, Ahmad N. Domestic violence and its relationship with depression, anxiety, and quality of life . Pak J Med Sci . 2021;37(1):191-194. doi:10.12669/pjms.37.1.2893

Cleveland Clinic. How to heal from emotional abuse .

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Crime — Domestic Violence

Essays on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence essay topics and outline examples, essay title 1: unveiling the shadows: understanding the causes, effects, and prevention of domestic violence.

Thesis Statement: This essay sheds light on the complex issue of domestic violence by examining its root causes, the devastating effects on victims and society, and strategies for prevention and intervention.

• Introduction
• Defining Domestic Violence: Types and Prevalence
• Causes of Domestic Violence: Analyzing Societal, Psychological, and Cultural Factors
• Impact on Victims: Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Consequences
• Children and Domestic Violence: The Far-Reaching Effects on Youth
• Legal Framework: Laws and Policies Addressing Domestic Violence
• Prevention and Intervention: Support Services, Shelters, and Community Outreach
• Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence for a Safer Society

Essay Title 2: Behind Closed Doors: The Cycle of Abuse, Power Dynamics, and Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence

Thesis Statement: This essay explores the cycle of abuse, the power dynamics within abusive relationships, and strategies to empower survivors of domestic violence to break free from the cycle.

• The Cycle of Abuse: Tensions, Violence, and Reconciliation
• Power and Control: Understanding the Dynamics of Abusive Relationships
• Barriers to Leaving: Factors That Keep Victims in Abusive Situations
• Supporting Survivors: Advocacy, Counseling, and Safe Havens
• Legal Remedies: Restraining Orders, Prosecution, and Victim Protection
• Education and Awareness: Preventing Domestic Violence Through Knowledge
• Conclusion: Empowering Survivors to Reclaim Their Lives

Essay Title 3: The Role of Education and Societal Change in Eradicating Domestic Violence

Thesis Statement: This essay discusses the pivotal role of education and societal change in eradicating domestic violence, emphasizing the importance of promoting healthy relationships and challenging harmful norms and stereotypes.

• Educational Initiatives: Teaching Healthy Relationships and Consent
• Media Influence: Portrayals of Domestic Violence and Their Impact
• Community Engagement: Grassroots Movements and Support Networks
• Breaking Stereotypes: Challenging Gender Norms and Toxic Masculinity
• Preventive Measures: Recognizing Early Warning Signs and Providing Resources
• International Perspectives: Global Efforts to Combat Domestic Violence
• Conclusion: Building a Safer and More Respectful Society for All

Domestic Violence: a Crime Against Humanity

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Physical and Emotional Abuse

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The Issues of Domestic Violence and Stalking in The United States

Sexual assault and domestic violence against women, effects of intimate partner violence on children, violence against women - a serious health & social problem, the promulgation of domestic violence in american society, domestic violence in take my eyes, georgia and the rise of domestic violence, domestic violence against women in america and other countries, the history, causes, types and prevention of spouse abuse, family violence in canada, podcast review: "seeking an end to cycles of abuse" by mahek kaur, the interconnection between male's chauvinism and domestic abuse, types/ signs of abuse and neglect that may be experienced by different individuals, flee with no glee: domestic violence, relationship violence: analysis of a case of juan canales-hernandez, family relationship in law: obligations of parents and children, adoption and domestic violence, the problem of women's abuse in afghanistan, freedom from domestic violence: town of castle rock v. gonzales, domestic violence: the weak enforcement of housing policies to protect battered women, power act legislation promoting pro bono services for victims of abuse.

Domestic violence refers to a pattern of abusive behaviors, physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual, occurring within a domestic or intimate relationship. It involves the exertion of power and control by one person over another, typically perpetrated by a current or former partner, spouse, or family member.

Physical Abuse: the use of physical force that causes bodily harm or injury to a partner or family member. Emotional or Psychological Abuse: this form of abuse aims to control, manipulate, or undermine the victim's emotional well-being. Sexual Abuse: any non-consensual sexual activity or coercion within an intimate relationship. Financial Abuse: this form of abuse entails controlling or limiting the victim's access to financial resources. Verbal Abuse: it includes the use of words, insults, threats, or derogatory language to demean, belittle, or intimidate the victim.

Domestic violence is a pressing issue in the United States, affecting individuals of all genders, ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Understanding the landscape of domestic violence in the country is crucial in raising awareness and implementing effective strategies to combat this pervasive problem. Domestic violence remains a significant concern in the US. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking in their lifetime. Domestic violence has profound consequences for individuals and society as a whole. Victims may suffer physical injuries, emotional trauma, and long-term psychological effects. It also contributes to a cycle of violence, negatively impacting families, children, and communities. Encouragingly, more survivors are coming forward to report domestic violence and seek help. Various organizations, such as domestic violence shelters, hotlines, and support groups, provide assistance and resources to survivors, including safety planning, counseling, and legal support.

Domestic violence has deep roots in history, spanning across cultures and societies. Understanding the historical context of this issue provides insight into the social and cultural factors that have shaped attitudes and responses to domestic violence over time. Throughout history, domestic violence was often considered a private matter, and societal norms and legal systems often failed to address or condemn it. Women were seen as property or subordinate to their male counterparts, which perpetuated power imbalances and contributed to the normalization of violence within intimate relationships. The feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s brought domestic violence to the forefront of public discourse. Activists and organizations shed light on the prevalence and severity of domestic violence, challenging societal beliefs and advocating for change. This led to the establishment of shelters, hotlines, and support services for survivors. Legislation also played a crucial role in addressing domestic violence. In the US, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed in 1994, providing federal resources to combat domestic violence, improve victim services, and enhance legal protections. While progress has been made, domestic violence remains a persistent issue, and ongoing efforts are necessary to address its root causes, promote gender equality, and create a society where all individuals can live free from violence and abuse.

One prominent figure is Dr. Ellen Pence, co-founder of the Duluth Model, an influential approach to addressing domestic violence. Her work focused on changing societal perceptions of domestic violence and promoting accountability for perpetrators. Activist and author, Tarana Burke, is another notable figure. She created the "Me Too" movement, which initially aimed to raise awareness about sexual assault but has since expanded to address various forms of abuse, including domestic violence. Her advocacy has sparked a global conversation and empowered countless survivors to share their experiences. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Halle Berry have used their platforms to speak out against domestic violence and support organizations that provide assistance to survivors. Their visibility and support have helped generate widespread attention and funding for initiatives combating domestic violence.

Public opinion on the topic of domestic violence has evolved significantly over time. In the past, there was often a prevailing attitude of silence and victim-blaming, which hindered progress in addressing the issue. However, as awareness has grown and conversations around domestic violence have become more open, public opinion has shifted towards greater recognition of its seriousness and the need for action. Today, there is generally widespread condemnation of domestic violence, with the majority of people acknowledging it as a serious societal problem that requires attention and intervention. People understand that domestic violence is not confined to a specific demographic and can affect individuals from all walks of life. Public opinion also recognizes the importance of supporting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable. There is a growing understanding that domestic violence is not a private matter but a public health issue that requires a comprehensive response involving education, prevention, and access to support services.

1. Power and Control 2. Socioeconomic Factors 3. Cultural and Social Norms 4. Substance Abuse 5. Childhood Experiences 6. Lack of Education and Awareness:

1. Physical Injuries 2. Psychological and Emotional Trauma 3. Social and Interpersonal Impact 4. Impact on Children 5. Economic Consequences 6. Cycle of Violence

1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. 2. Domestic violence is often underreported, making it challenging to fully understand the scope of the problem. Studies indicate that a significant number of domestic violence incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, economic dependence, or lack of awareness about available resources. 3. Domestic violence can perpetuate across generations. Children who witness domestic violence in their homes are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves as adults. Breaking this inter-generational cycle requires effective intervention and support to prevent the normalization of violence within families.

The topic of domestic violence is of utmost importance when it comes to raising awareness, fostering understanding, and promoting change in society. Writing an essay about domestic violence provides an opportunity to shed light on this pervasive issue and its profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. Firstly, addressing domestic violence is essential for the well-being and safety of countless individuals who experience physical, emotional, or sexual abuse within their homes. By discussing the causes, consequences, and dynamics of domestic violence, an essay can help educate readers about the signs to look out for and the available resources for support and intervention. Secondly, exploring the topic allows for a deeper understanding of the societal factors that contribute to domestic violence, such as power imbalances, gender roles, and cultural norms. By examining these underlying issues, an essay can contribute to the dialogue on social change, policy reforms, and the importance of prevention and education. Furthermore, the topic of domestic violence intersects with various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, law, and public health, making it a rich subject for research and analysis. It encourages critical thinking, empathy, and the exploration of potential solutions to combat domestic violence on personal, interpersonal, and systemic levels.

1. Anderson, K. L. (2017). Gender, power, and violence: Responding to intimate partner violence in South African households. Gender & Society, 31(6), 743-768. 2. Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Basile, K. C., Walters, M. L., Chen, J., & Merrick, M. T. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization—National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(8), 1-18. 3. Coker, A. L., Smith, P. H., Thompson, M. P., McKeown, R. E., Bethea, L., & Davis, K. E. (2002). Social support protects against the negative effects of partner violence on mental health. Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine, 11(5), 465-476. 4. Ellsberg, M., Jansen, H. A., Heise, L., Watts, C. H., & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2008). Intimate partner violence and women's physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence: An observational study. The Lancet, 371(9619), 1165-1172. 5. Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women (NCJ 182369). Bureau of Justice Statistics. 6. García-Moreno, C., Jansen, H. A., Ellsberg, M., Heise, L., & Watts, C. H. (2006). Prevalence of intimate partner violence: Findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence. The Lancet, 368(9543), 1260-1269. 7. Hegarty, K., O'Doherty, L., & Taft, A. (2013). Challenging the biomedical model: Toward a more nuanced understanding of violence against women. Violence Against Women, 19(11), 1419-1437. 8. Jewkes, R. (2002). Intimate partner violence: Causes and prevention. The Lancet, 359(9315), 1423-1429. 9. Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence: Intimate terrorism, violent resistance, and situational couple violence. Northeastern University Press. 10. World Health Organization. (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. World Health Organization.

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Essays About Violence: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Violence is a broad topic and can be sensitive for many; read our guide for help writing essays about violence.

The world has grown considerably more chaotic in recent decades, and with chaos comes violence. We have heard countless stories of police brutality, mass shootings, and injustices carried out by governments; these repeating occurrences show that the world is only becoming more violent.

Violence refers to the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy . From punching a friend due to disagreement to a massacre of innocent civilians, a broad range of actions can be considered violent. Many say that violence is intrinsic to humanity, but others promote peace and believe that we must do better to improve society.

If you are writing essays about violence, go over the essay example, and writing prompts featured below. 

Are you looking for more? Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

1. Videogames, Violence, and Vulgarity by Jared Lovins

2. street culture, schools, and the risk of youth violence by lorine hughes, ekaterina botchkovar, olena antonaccio, and anastasiia timmer, 3. violence in media: no problem or promotes violence in society by albert miles, 4. my experience of domestic violence by ruth stewart, 5. a few thoughts about violence by jason schmidt, writing prompts on essays about violence, 1. what is violence, 2. different types of violence, 3. can social media cause people to be violent, 4. is violence truly intrinsic to humankind, 5. causes of violence, 6. violence among the youth, 7. race-based violence.

“Parents allow themselves to be ignorant of the video games their children are playing. Players allow themselves to act recklessly when they believe that playing video games for ten, twenty, or even thirty hours on end won’t have an adverse effect on their mental and physical health. People allow themselves to act foolishly by blaming video games for much of the violence in the world when in truth they should be blaming themselves.”

Lovins discusses the widespread belief that video games cause violence and ” corrupt our society.” There is conflicting evidence on this issue; some studies prove this statement, while others show that playing violent video games may produce a calming effect. Lovins concludes that it is not the games themselves that make people violent; instead, some people’s mental health issues allow the games to inspire them to commit violence.

“The risk of violence was not higher (or lower) in schools with more pervasive street culture values. Higher concentrations of street culture values within schools did not increase the likelihood of violence above and beyond the effects of the street culture values of individual students. Our results also showed that attending schools with more pervasive street culture values did not magnify the risk of violence among individual students who had internalized these same values.”

In this essay, the authors discuss the results of their study regarding “street culture” and violence. Street culture promotes toughness and dominance by using “physical force and aggression,” so one would think that students who embrace street culture would be more violent; however, the research reveals that there is no higher risk of violent behavior in schools with more “street culture”-following students. 

“We have had a violent society before media was even around, and violence is just in our nature as human beings. Those who happen to stand against this are deceived by society, due to the fact that we live in a dangerous world, which will stay this way due to the inability to create proper reasoning.”

Miles writes about people blaming the media for violence in society. He believes that government media regulations, including age-based ratings, are sufficient. If these restrictions and guidelines are taken seriously, there should be no problem with violence. Miles also states that violence has existed as long as humankind has, so it is unreasonable to blame the media. 

“It was when I was in the bath, and I looked down at my body and there were no bruises on it. None at all. I was shocked; it was the first time I had lived in a non-bruised body in many years. I don’t know if any other women who got out of violent situations felt their moment. The point at which they realised it was over, they could now get on with recovering. I promised myself that I would never stay with a violent partner ever, ever again. I have kept that promise to myself.”

Stewart reflects on her time with an ex-boyfriend who was violent towards her. Even though he kept hitting her, she stayed because she was used to it; her mother and stepfather were both violent during her childhood. Thankfully, she decided to leave and freed herself from the torture. She promises never to get into a similar situation and gives tips on avoiding staying with a violent partner. 

“I went back and replayed the burglar scenario in my head. Suppose I’d had a gun. When would I have pulled it? When he ran out of the apartment? What were the chances I would have killed him in a panic, without ever knowing he was armed? Stupidly high. And for what? Because he tried to steal someone’s TV? No.”

In his essay, Schmidt recalls an instance in which a man pulled a gun on him, threatening him with violence. He chased a burglar down the street, but the burglar pulled a gun on him, leaving him stunned and confused enough to escape. Schmidt was so bothered by the incident that he got his own concealed carry permit; however, after reading statistics regarding gun accidents, he decided to reject violence outright and pursue peace. 

As stated previously, violence is quite a broad topic, so it can be challenging to understand fully. Define the word violence and briefly overview some of its probable causes, how it manifests itself, and its effects. You can also include statistics related to violence and your own opinions on if violence is a good or bad thing. 

There are many types of violence, such as domestic violence, gun violence, and war. List down the commonly occurring forms of violence and explain each of them briefly. How are they connected, if they are? To keep your essay exciting and readable, do not go too in-depth; you can reserve a more detailed discussion for future essays that are specifically about one type of violence.  

Social media is quite explicit and can show viewers almost anything, including violent content. Some sample essays above discuss the media’s effect on violence; based on this, is social media any different? Research this connection, if it exists, and decide whether social media can cause violence. Can social media-based pressure lead to violence? Answer this question in your essay citing data and interview research.

Many argue that humans are innately violent, and each of us has an “inner beast.” In your essay, discuss what makes people violent and whether you believe we have tendencies towards violence. Be sure to support your points with ample evidence; there are many sources you can find online. 

Violence arises from many common problems, whether it be depression, poverty, or greed. Discuss one or more causes of violence and how they are interconnected. Explain how these factors arise and how they manifest violence. With an understanding of the causes of violence, your essay can also propose solutions to help prevent future violence.

Youth violence is becoming a more severe problem. News of school shootings in the U.S. has set public discourse aflame, saying that more should be done to prevent them. For your essay, give a background of youth violence in the U.S. and focus on school shootings. What motivates these school shooters?  Give examples of children whose upbringing led them to commit violent acts in the future

Another issue in the U.S. today is race-based violence, most notably police brutality against African-Americans. Is there a race issue in policing in America? Or do they target offenders regardless of race? Can both be true at the same time? You decide, and make sure to explain your argument in detail. 

If you’d like to learn more, in this guide our writer explains how to write an argumentative essay .Grammarly is one of our top grammar checkers. Find out why in this Grammarly review .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Family Violence in History and Nowadays Essay

Interests in learning about family violence, how history has contributed to violence in the family today.

I am interested in family violence because I want to be a police officer. Daily through the media, we are bombarded with information in relation to family violence in its different forms. I am interested in learning more about family violence due to the desire to understand the factors that contribute to high cases of domestic violence. I think the information in this course will be important in helping me to understand the various issues with regard to domestic violence. Examples of family violence are sexual harassment and rape, psychological assault perpetrated by both men and women. It has been shown that cultures of different communities support many types of violent acts (Majau, 2014).

The patriarchal power system is not embodied in the biological males, but it is a social construction (Gosselin, 2014).Therefore, the long history of male domination is insightful in determining whether this cultural subordination of women to men provides the reason for the existence of the inequalities that exist between the sexes and also establishes the effect of globalization of this topic.

The information is necessitated by the fact that this family violence is usually not reported, or even when reported, the perpetrators go scot-free (Majau, 2014). There are fewer legislation and policies to curb family violent acts (Gosselin, 2014). The other inherent aspect of this topic is how this culture has been interred in the women that they are not only the perennial victims, but they are also perpetrators of this vice by silently hiding their sufferings or by psychologically taunting other women.

Thus, family violence can largely be attributed to the underrepresentation of women at home and other major decision-making institutions such as religious institutions and learning institutions (Majau, 2014). This becomes a barrier for women to attain power and change the oppressive traditions. In fact, efforts have to be focused on empowering women in different communities.

Gosselin, D. K. (2014). Heavy hands: An introduction to the crimes of family violence , (5 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Majau, U. (2014). Perspectives to sex discrimination: male and female chauvinism . Web.

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Violence in Families: Assessing Prevention and Treatment Programs (1998)

Chapter: 9 conclusions and recommendations, 9 conclusions and recommendations.

The problems of child maltreatment, domestic violence, and elder abuse have generated hundreds of separate interventions in social service, health, and law enforcement settings. This array of interventions has been driven by the urgency of the different types of family violence, client needs, and the responses of service providers, advocates, and communities. The interventions now constitute a broad range of institutional services that focus on the identification, treatment, prevention, and deterrence of family violence.

The array of interventions that is currently in place and the dozens of different types of programs and services associated with each intervention represent a valuable body of expertise and experience that is in need of systematic scientific study to inform and guide service design, treatment, prevention, and deterrence. The challenge for the research community, service providers, program sponsors, and policy makers is to develop frameworks to enhance critical analyses of current strategies, interventions, and programs and identify next steps in addressing emerging questions and cross-cutting issues. Many complexities now characterize family violence interventions and challenge the development of rigorous scientific evaluations. These complexities require careful consideration in the development of future research, service improvements, and collaborative efforts between researchers and service providers. Examples of these complexities are illustrative:

• The interventions now in place in communities across the nation focus services on discrete and isolated aspects of family violence. They address different aspects of child maltreatment, domestic violence, and elder abuse. Some
• interventions have an extensive history of experience, and others are at a very early stage of development.
• Many interventions have not been fully implemented because of limited funding or organizational barriers. Thus in many cases it is too early to expect that research can determine whether a particular intervention or strategy (such as deterrence or prevention) is effective because the intervention may not yet have sufficient strength to achieve its intended impact.
• The social and institutional settings of many interventions present important challenges to the design of systematic scientific evaluations. The actual strength or dosage of a particular program can be directly influenced by local or national events that stimulate changes in resources, budgets, and personnel factors that influence its operation in different service settings. Variations in service scope or intensity caused by local service practices and social settings are important sources of "noise" in cross-site research studies; they can directly affect evaluation studies in such key areas as definitions, eligibility criteria, and outcome measures.
• Emerging research on the experiences of family violence victims and offenders suggests that this is a complex population composed of different types of individuals and patterns of behavior. Evaluation studies thus need to consider the types of clients served by particular services, the characteristics of those who benefited from them, and the attributes of those who were resistant to change.

In this chapter the committee summarizes its overall conclusions and proposes policy and research recommendations. A key question for the committee was whether and when the research evidence is sufficient to guide a critical examination of particular interventions. In some areas, the body of research is sufficient to inform policy choices, program development, evaluation research, data collection, and theory-building; the committee makes recommendations for current policies and practices in these areas below. In other areas, although the research base is not yet mature enough to guide policy and program development, some interventions are ready for rigorous evaluation studies. For this second tier of interventions, the committee makes recommendations for the next generation of evaluation studies. The committee then identifies a set of four topics for basic research that reflect current insights into the nature of family violence and trends in family violence interventions. A final section makes some suggestions to increase the effectiveness of collaborations between researchers and service providers.

Conclusions

The committee's conclusions are derived from our analysis of the research literature and discussions with service providers in the workshops and site visits, rather than from specific research studies. This analysis takes a client-oriented

approach to family violence interventions, which means that we focus on how existing services in health, social services, and law enforcement settings affect the individuals who come in contact with them.

• The urgency of the need to respond to the problem of family violence and the paucity of research to guide service interventions have created an environment in which insights from small-scale studies are often adopted into policy and professional practice without sufficient independent replication or reflection on their possible shortcomings. Rigorous evaluations of family violence interventions are confined, for the most part, to small or innovative programs that provide an opportunity to develop a comparison or control study, rather than focusing on the major existing family violence interventions.
• This situation has fostered a series of trial-and-error experiences in which a promising intervention is later found to be problematic when employed with a broader and more varied population. Major treatment and prevention interventions, such as child maltreatment reporting systems, casework, protective orders, and health care for victims of domestic violence, battered women's shelters, and elder abuse interventions of all types, have not been the subjects of rigorous evaluation studies. The programmatic and policy emphasis on single interventions as panaceas to the complex problems of family violence, and the lack of sufficient opportunity for learning more about the service interactions, client characteristics, and contextual factors that could affect the impact of different approaches, constitute formidable challenges to the improvement of the knowledge base and prevention and treatment interventions in this filed.
• In all areas of family violence, after-the-fact services predominate over preventive interventions. For child maltreatment and elder abuse, case identification and investigative services are the primary form of intervention; services designed to prevent, treat, or deter family violence are relatively rare in social service, health, and criminal justice settings (with the notable exceptions of foster care and family preservation services). For domestic violence, interventions designed to treat victims and offenders and deter future incidents of violence are more common, but preventive services remain relatively underdeveloped.
• The current array of family violence interventions (especially in the areas of child maltreatment and elder abuse) is a loosely coupled network of individual programs and services that are highly reactive in nature, focused primarily on the detection of specific cases. It is a system largely driven by events, rather than one that is built on theory, research, and data collection. Interventions are oriented toward the identification of victims and the substantiation and documentation of their experiences, rather than the delivery of recommended services to reduce the incidence and consequences of family violence in the community overall. As a result, enormous resources are invested to develop evidence that certain victims or offenders need treatment, legal action, or other interventions, and comparatively limited funds are available for the treatment and support services themselves—a
• situation that results in lengthy waiting lists, discretionary decisionmaking processes in determining which cases are referred for further action, and extensive variation in a service system's ability to match clients with appropriate interventions.
• The duration and intensity of the mental health and social support services needed to influence behaviors that result from or contribute to family violence may be greater than initially estimated. Family violence treatment and preventive interventions that focus on single incidents and short periods of support services, especially in such areas as parenting skills, mental health, and batterer treatment, may be inadequate to deal with problems that are pervasive, multiple, and chronic. Many programs for victims involve short-term treatment services—less than 6 weeks. Services for offenders are also typically of short duration. Yet research suggests that short-term programs designed to alter violent behavior are often the least likely to succeed, because of the difficulties of changing behavior that has persisted for a period of years and has become part of an established pattern in relationships. Efforts to address fundamental sources of conflict, stress, and violence that occur repeatedly over time within the family environment may require extensive periods of support services to sustain the positive effects achieved in short-term interventions.
• The interactive nature of family violence interventions constitutes a major challenge to the evaluation of interventions because the presence or absence of policies and programs in one domain may directly affect the implementation and outcomes of interventions in another. Research suggests that the risk and protective factors for child maltreatment, domestic violence, and elder abuse interact across multiple levels. The uncoordinated but interactive system of services requires further attention and consideration in future evaluation studies. Such evaluations need to document the presence and absence of services that affect members of the same family unit but offer treatment for specific problems in separate institutions characterized by different service philosophies and resources.
• For example, factors such as court oversight or mandatory referrals may influence individual participation in treatment services and the outcomes associated with such participation. The culture and resources of one agency can influence the quality and timing of services offered by another. Yet little information is available regarding the extent or quality of interventions in a community. Clients who receive multiple interventions (especially children) are often not followed through different service settings. Limited information is available to distinguish key features of innovative interventions from those usually offered in a community; to describe the stages of implementation of specific family violence programs, interventions, or strategies; to explain rates of attrition in the client base; or to capture case characteristics that influence the ways in which clients are selected for specific treatment programs.
• The emergence of secondary prevention interventions specifically targeted to serve children, adults, and communities with characteristics that are
• thought to place them at greater risk of family violence than the general population, along with the increasing emphasis on the need for integration and coordination of services, has the potential to achieve significant benefits. However, the potential of these newer interventions to reduce the need for treatment or other support services over the lifetime of the client has not yet been proven for large populations.
• Secondary preventive interventions, such as those serving children exposed to domestic violence, have the potential to reduce future incidents of family violence and to reduce the existing need for services in such areas as recovery from trauma, substance abuse, juvenile crime, mental health and health care. However, evaluation studies are not yet available to determine the value of preventive interventions for large populations in terms of reduction of the need for treatment or other support services over a client's lifetime.
• The shortage of service resources and the emphasis on reactive, short-term treatment have directed comparatively little attention to interventions for people who have experienced or perpetrated violent behavior but who have not yet been reported or identified as offenders or victims. Efforts to achieve broader systemic collaboration, comprehensive service integration, and proactive interventions require attention to the appropriate balance among enforcement, treatment, and prevention interventions in addressing family violence at both state and national levels. Such efforts also need to be responsive to the particular requirements of diverse ethnic communities with special needs or unique resources that can be mobilized in the development of preventive interventions. Because they extend to a larger population than those currently served by treatment centers, secondary prevention efforts can be expensive; their benefits may not become apparent until many years after the intervention occurs.
• Policy leadership is needed to help integrate family violence treatment, enforcement and support actions, and preventive interventions and also to foster the development of evaluations of comprehensive and cross-problem interventions that have the capacity to consider outcomes beyond reports of future violent behavior.
• Creative research methodologies are also needed to examine the separate and combined effects of cross-problem service strategies (such as the treatment of substance abuse and family violence), follow individuals and families through multiple service interventions and agency settings, and examine factors that may play important mediating roles in determining whether violence will occur or continue (such as the use of social networks and support services and the threat of legal sanctions).
• Most evaluations seek to document whether violent behavior decreased as a result of the intervention, an approach that often inhibits attention to other factors that may play important mediating roles in determining whether violence will occur. The individual victim or offender is the focus of most interventions and
• the unit of analysis in evaluation studies, rather than the family or the community in which the violence occurred.

Integrated approaches have the potential to illuminate the sequences and ways in which different experiences with violence in the family do and do not overlap with each other and with other kinds of violence. This research approach requires time to mature; at present, it is not strong enough to determine the strengths or limitations of strategies that integrate different forms of family violence compared with approaches that focus on specific forms of family violence. Service integration efforts focused on single forms of family violence may have the potential to achieve greater impact than services that disregard the interactive nature of this complex behavior, but this hypothesis also remains unproven.

Recommendations For Current Policies And Practices

It is premature to offer policy recommendations for most family violence interventions in the absence of a research base that consists of well-designed evaluations. However, the committee has identified two areas (home visitation and family preservation services) in which a rigorous set of studies offers important guidance to policy makers and service providers. In four other areas (reporting practices, batterer treatment programs, record keeping, and collaborative law enforcement approaches) the committee has drawn on its judgment and deliberations to encourage policy makers and service providers to take actions that are consistent with the state of the current research base.

These six interventions were selected for particular attention because (1) they are the focus of current policy attention, service evaluation, and program design; (2) a sufficient length of time has elapsed since the introduction of the intervention to allow for appropriate experience with key program components and measurement of outcomes; (3) the intervention has been widely adopted or is under consideration by a large number of communities to warrant its careful analysis; and (4) the intervention has been described and characterized in the research literature (through program summaries or case studies).

Reporting Practices

All 50 states have adopted laws requiring health professionals and other service providers to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Although state laws vary in terms of the types of endangerment and evidentiary standards that warrant a report to child protection authorities, each state has adopted a procedure that requires designated professionals—or, in some states, all adults—to file a report if they believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. Mandatory reporting is thought to enhance early case detection and to increase the likelihood that services will be provided to children in need.

For domestic violence, mandatory reporting requirements for professional groups like health care providers have been adopted by the state of California and are under consideration in several other states. Mandatory reports are seen as a method by which offenders who abuse multiple partners can be identified through the health care community for law enforcement purposes. Early detection is assumed to lead to remedies and interventions that will prevent further abuse by holding the abuser accountable and helping to mitigate the consequences of family violence.

Critics have argued that mandatory reporting requirements may damage the confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship between health professionals and their clients, disregard the knowledge and preferences of the victim regarding appropriate action, potentially increase the danger to victims when sufficient protection and support are not available, and ultimately discourage individuals who wish to seek physical or psychological treatment from contacting and disclosing abuse to health professionals. In many regions, victim support services are not available or the case requires extensive legal documentation to justify treatment for victims, offenders, and families.

For elder abuse, 42 states have mandatory reporting systems. Several states have opted for voluntary systems after conducting studies that considered the advantages and disadvantages of voluntary and mandatory reporting systems, on the grounds that mandatory reports do not achieve significant increases in the detection of elder abuse cases.

In reviewing the research base associated with the relationship between reporting systems and the treatment and prevention of family violence, the committee has observed that no existing evaluation studies can demonstrate the value of mandatory reporting systems compared with voluntary reporting procedures in addressing child maltreatment or domestic violence. For elder abuse, studies suggest that a high level of public and professional awareness and the availability of comprehensive services to identify, treat, and prevent violence is preferable to reporting requirements in improving rates of case detection.

The absence of a research base to support mandatory reporting systems raises questions as to whether they should be recommended for all areas of family violence. The impact of mandatory reporting systems in the area of child maltreatment and elder abuse remains unexamined. The committee therefore suggests that it is important for the states to proceed cautiously at this time and to delay adopting a mandatory reporting system in the area of domestic violence, until the positive and negative impacts of such a system have been rigorously examined in states in which domestic violence reports are now required by law.

Recommendation 1: The committee recommends that states initiate evaluations of their current reporting laws addressing family violence to examine whether and how early case detection leads to improved outcomes for the victims or families and promote changes based on sound research. In

particular, the committee recommends that states refrain from enacting mandatory reporting laws for domestic violence until such systems have been tested and evaluated by research.

In dealing with family violence that involves adults, federal and state government agencies should reconsider the nature and role of compulsory reporting policies. In the committee's view, mandatory reporting systems have some disadvantages in cases involving domestic violence, especially if the victim objects to such reports, if comprehensive community protections and services are not available, and if the victim is able to gain access to therapeutic treatment or support services in the absence of a reporting system.

The dependent status of young children and some elders provides a stronger argument in favor of retaining mandatory reporting requirements where they do exist. However, the effectiveness of reporting requirements depends on the availability of resources and service personnel who can investigate reports and refer cases for appropriate treatment, as well as clear guidelines for processing reports and determining which cases qualify for services. Greater discretion may be advised when the child and family are able to receive therapeutic treatment from health care or other service providers and when community resources are not available to respond appropriately to their cases. The treatment of adolescents especially requires major consideration of the pros and cons of mandatory reporting requirements. Adolescent victims are still in a vulnerable stage of development: they may or may not have the capacity to make informed decisions regarding the extent to which they wish to invoke legal protections in dealing with incidents of family violence in their homes.

Batterer Treatment Programs

Four key questions characterize current policy and research discussions about the efficacy of batterer treatment, one of the most challenging problems in the design of family violence interventions: Is treatment preferable to incarceration, supervised probation, or other forms of court oversight for batterers? Does participation in treatment change offenders' attitudes and behavior and reduce recidivism? Does the effectiveness of treatment depend on its intensity, duration, or the voluntary or compulsory nature of the program? Is treatment what creates change, or is change in behavior reduced by multiple interventions, such as arrest, court monitoring of client participation in treatment services, and victim support services?

Descriptive research studies suggest that there are multiple profiles of batterers, and therefore one generic approach is not appropriate for all offenders. Treatment programs may be helpful in changing abusive behavior when they are part of an overall strategy designed to recognize and reduce violence in a relationship, when the batterer is prepared to learn how to control aggressive impulses, and

when the treatment plan emphasizes victim safety and provides for frequent interactions with treatment staff.

Research on the effectiveness of treatment programs suggests that the majority of subjects who complete court-ordered treatment programs do learn basic cognitive and behavioral principles taught in their course. However, such learning requires appropriate program content and client participation in the program for a sufficient time to complete the necessary training. Very few studies have examined matched groups of violent offenders who are assigned to treatment and control groups or comparison groups (such as incarceration or work-release). As a result, the comparative efficacy of treatment is unknown in reducing future violence. Differing client populations and differing forms of court oversight are particularly problematic factors that inhibit the design of rigorous evaluation studies in this field.

The absence of strong theory and common measures to guide the development of family violence treatment regimens, the heterogeneity of offenders (including patterns of offending and readiness to change) who are the subjects of protective orders or treatment, and low rates of attendance, completion, and enforcement are persistent problems that affect both the evaluation of the interventions and efforts to reduce the violence. A few studies suggest that court oversight does appear to increase completion rates, which have been linked to enhanced victim safety in the area of domestic violence, but increased completion rates have not yet led to a discernible effect on recidivism rates in general.

Further evaluations are needed to examine the outcomes associated with different approaches and programmatic themes (such as cognitive-behavioral principles: issues of power, control, and gender; personal accountability). Completion rates have been used as an interim outcome to measure the success of batterer treatment programs; further studies are needed to determine if completers can be identified readily, if program completion by itself is a critical factor in reducing recidivism, and if participation in a treatment program changes the nature, timing, and severity of future violent behavior.

The current research base is inadequate to identify the conditions under which mandated referrals to batterer treatment programs offer a clear advantage over incarceration or untreated probation supervision in reducing recidivism for the general population of male offenders. Court officials should monitor closely the attendance, participation, and completion rates of offenders who are referred to batterer treatment programs in lieu of more punitive sentences. Treatment staff should inform law enforcement officials of any significant behavior by the offender that might represent a threat to the victim. Mandated treatment referrals may be effective for certain types of batterers, especially if they increase completion rates. The research is inconclusive, however, as to which types of individuals should be referred for treatment rather than more punitive sanctions. In selecting individuals for treatment, attention should be given to client history

(first-time offenders are more likely to benefit), motivation for treatment, and likelihood of completion.

Mandated treatment referrals for batterers do appear to provide benefits to victims, such as intensive surveillance of offenders, an interlude to allow planning for safety and victim support, and greater community awareness of the batterer's behavior. These outcomes may interact to deter and reduce domestic violence in the community, even if a treatment program does not alter the behavior of a particular batterer. Treatment programs that include frequent interactions between staff and victims also provide a means by which staff can help educate victims about danger signals and support them in efforts to obtain greater protection and legal safeguards, if necessary.

Recommendation 2: In the absence of research that demonstrates that a specific model of treatment can reduce violent behavior for many domestic violence offenders, courts need to put in place early warning systems to detect failure to comply with or complete treatment and signs of new abuse or retaliation against victims, as well as to address unintended or inadvertent results that may arise from the referral to or experience with treatment.

Further research evaluation studies are needed to review the outcomes for both offenders and victims associated with program content and levels of intensity in different treatment models. This research will help indicate whether treatment really helps and what mix of services are more helpful than others. Improved research may also help distinguish those victims and offenders for whom particular treatments are most beneficial.

Record Keeping

Since experience with family violence appears to be associated with a wide range of health problems and social service needs, service providers are recognizing the importance of documenting abuse histories in their client case records. The documentation in health and social service records of abuse histories that are self-reported by victims and offenders can help service providers and researchers to determine if appropriate referrals and services have been made and the outcomes associated with their use. The exchange of case records among service providers is essential to the development of comprehensive treatment programs, continuity of care, and appropriate follow-up for individuals and families who appear in a variety of service settings. Such exchanges can help establish greater accountability by service systems for responding to the needs of identifiable victims and offenders; health and social service records can also provide appropriate evidence for legal actions, in both civil and criminal courts and child custody cases.

Research evaluations of service interventions often require the use of anonymous case records. The documentation of family violence in such records will

enhance efforts to improve the quality of evaluations and to understand more about patterns of behavior associated with violent behaviors and victimization experiences. Although documentation of abuse histories can improve evaluations and lead to integrated service responses, such procedures require safeguards so that individuals are not stigmatized or denied therapeutic services on the basis of their case histories. Insurance discrimination, in particular, which may preclude health care coverage if abuse is judged to be a preexisting condition, requires attention to ensure that professional services are not diminished as a result of voluntary disclosures. Creative strategies are needed to support integrated service system reviews of medical, legal, and social service case records in order to enhance the quality and accountability of service responses. Such reviews will need to meet the expectations of privacy and confidentiality of both individual victims and the community, especially in cases in which maltreatment reports are subsequently regarded as unfounded.

Documentation of abuse histories that are voluntarily disclosed by victims or offenders to health care professionals and social service providers must be distinguished from screening efforts designed to trigger such disclosures. The committee recommends screening as a strong candidate for future evaluation studies (see discussion in the next section).

Recommendation 3: The committee recommends that health and social service providers develop safeguards to strengthen their documentation of abuse and histories of family violence in both individual and group records, regardless of whether the abuse is reported to authorities.

The documentation of histories of family violence in health records should be designed to record voluntary disclosures by both victims and offenders and to enhance early and coordinated interventions that can provide a therapeutic response to experiences with abuse or neglect. Safeguards are required, however, to ensure that such documentation does not lead to stigmatization, encourage discriminatory practices, or violate assurances of privacy and confidentiality, especially when individual histories become part of patient group records for health care providers and employers.

Collaborative Law Enforcement Strategies

In the committee's view, collaborative law enforcement strategies that create a web of social control for offenders are an idea worth testing to determine if such efforts can achieve a significant deterrent effect in addressing domestic violence. Collaborative strategies include such efforts as victim support and offender tracking systems designed to increase the likelihood that domestic violence cases will be prosecuted when an arrest has been made, that sanctions and treatment services will be imposed when evidence exists to confirm the charges brought against the offender, and that penalties will be invoked for failure to comply with treatment

conditions. The attraction of collaborative strategies is based on their potential ability to establish multiple interactions with offenders across a large domain of interactions that reinforce social standards in the community and establish penalties for violations of those standards. Creating the deterrent effect, however, requires extensive coordination and reciprocity between victim support and offender monitoring efforts involving diverse sectors of the law enforcement community. These efforts may be difficult to implement and evaluate. Further studies are needed to determine the extent to which improved collaboration among police officers, prosecutors, and judges will lead to improved coordination and stronger sanctions for offenders and a reduction in domestic violence.

The absence of empirical research findings of the results of a collaborative law enforcement approach in addressing domestic violence makes it difficult to compare the costs and benefits of increased agency coordination with those achieved by a single law enforcement strategy (such as arrest) in dealing with different populations of offenders and victims. Even though relatively few cases of arrest are made for any form of family violence, arrest is the most common and most studied form of law enforcement intervention in this area. Research studies conducted in the 1980s on arrest policies in domestic violence cases are the strongest experimental evaluations to date of the role of deterrence in family violence interventions. These experiments indicate that arrest may be effective for some, but not most, batterers in reducing subsequent violence by the offender. Some research studies suggest that arrest may be a deterrent for employed and married individuals (those who have a stake in social conformity) and may lead to an escalation of violence among those who do not, but this observation has not been tested in studies that could specifically examine the impact of arrest in groups that differ in social and economic status. The differing effects (in terms of a reduction of future violence) of arrest for employed/unemployed and married/unmarried individuals raise difficult questions about the reliance of law enforcement officers on arrest as the sole or central component of their response to domestic violence incidents in communities where domestic violence cases are not routinely prosecuted, where sanctions are not imposed by the courts, or where victim support programs are not readily available.

The implementation of proarrest policies and practices that would discriminate according to the risk status of specific groups is challenged by requirements for equal protection under the law. Law enforcement officials cannot tailor arrest policies to the marital or employment status of the suspect or other characteristics that may interact with deterrence efforts. Specialized training efforts may help alleviate the tendency of police officers to arrest both suspect and victim, however, and may alert law enforcement personnel to the need to review both criminal and civil records in determining whether an arrest is advisable in response to a domestic violence case.

Two additional observations merit consideration in examining the deterrent effects of arrest. First, in the research studies conducted thus far, the implementation

of legal sanctions was minimal. Most offenders in the replication studies were not prosecuted once arrested, and limited legal sanctions were imposed on those cases that did receive a hearing. Some researchers concluded that stronger evidence of effectiveness might be obtained from proarrest policies if they are implemented as part of a law enforcement strategy that expands the use of punitive sanctions for offenders—including conviction, sentencing, and intensive supervised probation.

Second is the issue of reciprocity between formal sanctions against the offender and informal support actions for the victims of domestic violence. The effects of proarrest policies may depend on the extent to which victims have access to shelter services and other forms of support, demonstrating the interactive dimensions of community interventions. A mandatory arrest policy, by itself, may be an insufficient deterrent strategy for domestic violence, but its effectiveness may be enhanced by other interventions that represent coordinated law enforcement efforts to deter domestic violence—including the use of protective orders, victim advocates, and special prosecution units. Coordinated efforts may help reduce or prevent domestic violence if they represent a collaborative strategy among police, prosecutors, and judges that improves the certainty of the use of sanctions against batterers.

Recommendation 4: Collaborative strategies among caseworkers, police, prosecutors, and judges are recommended as law enforcement interventions that have the potential to improve the batterer's compliance with treatment as well as the certainty of the use of sanctions in addressing domestic violence.

The impact of single interventions (such as mandatory arrest policies) is difficult to discern in the research literature. Such practices by themselves can neither be recommended nor rejected as effective measures in addressing domestic violence on the basis of existing research studies.

Home Visitation and Family Support Services

Home visitation and family support programs constitute one of the most promising areas of child maltreatment prevention. Studies in this area have experimented with different levels of treatment intensity, duration, and staff expertise. For home visitation, the findings generally support the principle that early intervention with mothers who are at risk of child maltreatment makes a difference in child outcomes. Such interventions may be difficult to implement and maintain over time, however, and their effectiveness depends on the willingness of the parents to participate. Selection criteria for home visitation should be based on a combination of social setting and individual risk factors.

In their current form, home visitation programs have multiple goals, only one of which is the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Home visitation and family

support programs have traditionally been designed to improve parent-child relations with regard to family functioning, child health and safety, nutrition and hygiene, and parenting practices. American home visiting programs are derived from the British system, which relies on public health nurses and is offered on a universal basis to all parents with young children. Resource constraints, however, have produced a broad array of variations in this model; most programs in the United States are now directed toward at-risk families who have been reported to social services or health agencies because of prenatal health risks or risks for child maltreatment. Comprehensive programs provide a variety of services, including in-home parent education and prenatal and early infant health care, screening, referral to and, in some cases, transportation to social and health services. Positive effects include improved childrearing practices, increased social supports, utilization of community services, higher birthweights, and longer gestation periods.

Researchers have identified improvements in cognitive and parenting skills and knowledge as evidence of reduced risk for child maltreatment; they have also documented lower rates of reported child maltreatment and number of visits to emergency services for home-visited families. The benefits of home visitation appear most promising for young, first-time mothers who delay additional pregnancies and thus reduce the social and financial stresses that burden households with large numbers of young children. Other benefits include improved child care for infants and toddlers and an increase in knowledge about the availability of community services for older children. The intervention has not been demonstrated to have benefits for children whose parents abuse drugs or alcohol or those who are not prepared to engage in help-seeking behaviors. The extent to which home visitation benefits families with older children, or families who are already involved in abusive or neglectful behaviors, remains uncertain.

Recommendation 5: As part of a comprehensive prevention strategy for child maltreatment, the committee recommends that home visitation programs should be particularly encouraged for first-time parents living in social settings with high rates of child maltreatment reports.

The positive impact of well-designed home visitation interventions has been demonstrated in several evaluation studies that focus on the role of mothers in child health, development, and discipline. The committee recommends their use in a strategy designed to prevent child maltreatment. Home visitation programs do require additional evaluation research, however, to determine the factors that may influence their effectiveness. Such factors include (1) the conditions under which home visitation should be provided as part of a continuum of family support programs, (2) the types of parenting behaviors that are most and least amenable to change as a result of home visitation, (3) the duration and intensity of services (including amounts and types of training for home visitors) that are necessary to achieve positive outcomes for high-risk families, (4) the experience

of fathers in general and of families in diverse ethnic communities in particular with home visitation interventions, and (5) the need for follow-up services once the period of home visitation has ended.

Intensive Family Preservation Services

Intensive family preservation services represent crisis-oriented, short-term, intensive case management and family support programs that have been introduced in various communities to improve family functioning and to prevent the removal of children from the home. The overall goal of the intervention is to provide flexible forms of family support to assist with the resolution of circumstances that stimulated the child placement proposal, thus keeping the family intact and reducing foster care placements.

Eight of ten evaluation studies of selected intensive family preservation service programs (including five randomized trials and five quasi-experimental studies) suggest that, although these services may delay child placement for families in the short term, they do not show an ability to resolve the underlying family dysfunction that precipitated the crisis or to improve child well-being or family functioning in most families. However, the evaluations have shortcomings, such as poorly defined assessment of child placement risk, inadequate descriptions of the interventions provided, and nonblinded determination of the assignment of clients to treatment and control groups.

Intensive family preservation services may provide important benefits to the child, family, and community in the form of emergency assistance, improved family functioning, better housing and environmental conditions, and increased collaboration among discrete service systems. Intensive family preservation services may also result in child endangerment, however, when a child remains in a family environment that threatens the health or physical safety of the child or other family members.

Recommendation 6: Intensive family preservation services represent an important part of the continuum of family support services, but they should not be required in every situation in which a child is recommended for out-of-home placement.

Measures of health, safety, and well-being should be included in evaluations of intensive family preservation services to determine their impact on children's outcomes as well as placement rates and levels of family functioning, including evidence of recurrence of abuse of the child or other family members. There is a need for enhanced screening instruments that can identify the families who are most likely to benefit from intensive short-term services focused on the resolution of crises that affect family stability and functioning.

The value of appropriate post-reunification (or placement) services to the child and family to enhance coping and the ability to make a successful transition

toward long-term adjustment also remains uncertain. The impact of post-reunification or post-placement services needs to be considered in terms of their relative effects on child and family functioning compared with the use of intensive family preservation services prior to child removal. In some situations, one or the other type of services might be recommended; in other cases, they might be used in some combination to achieve positive outcomes.

Recommendations For The Next Generation Of Evaluations

Determining which interventions should be selected for rigorous and in-depth evaluations in the future will acquire increased importance as the array of family violence interventions expands in social services, law, and health care settings. For this reason, clear criteria and guiding principles are necessary to guide sponsoring agencies in their efforts to determine which types of interventions are suitable for evaluation research. Recognizing that all promising interventions cannot be evaluated, public and private agencies need to consider how to invest research resources in areas that show programmatic potential as well as an adequate research foundation. Future allocations of research investments may require agencies to reorganize or to develop new programmatic and research units that can inform the process of selecting interventions for future evaluation efforts, determine the scope of adequate funding levels, and identify areas in which program integration or diversity may contribute to a knowledge base that can inform policy, practice, and research. Such agencies may also consider how to sustain an ongoing dialogue among research sponsors, research scientists, and service providers to inform these selection efforts and to disseminate evaluation results once they are available.

In the interim, the committee offers several guiding principles to help inform the evaluation selection process.

• meet the preconditions for experimentation that are described in the other principles outlined below.

With these principles in mind, the committee has identified a set of interventions that are the focus of current policy attention and service innovation efforts but have not received significant attention from research. In the committee's judgment, each of these nine interventions has reached a level of maturation and preliminary description in the research literature to justify their selection as strong candidates for future evaluation studies.

Training for Service Providers and Law Enforcement Officials

Training in basic educational programs and continuing education on all aspects

of family violence has expanded for professionals in the health care, legal, and social service systems. Such efforts can be expected to enhance skills in identifying individual experiences with family violence, but improvements in training may improve other outcomes as well, including the patterns and timing of service interventions, the nature of interactions with victims of family violence, linkage of service referrals, the quality of investigation and documentation for reported cases, and, ultimately, improved health and safety outcomes for victims and communities.

Training programs alone may be insufficient to change professional behavior and service interventions unless they are accompanied by financial and human resources that emphasize the role of psychosocial issues and support the delivery of appropriate treatment, prevention, and referral services in different institutional and community settings. Evaluations of their effectiveness therefore need to consider the institutional culture and resource base that influence the implementation of the training program and the abilities of service providers to apply their knowledge and skills in meeting the needs of their clients.

Evaluation research is needed to assess the impact of training programs on counseling and referral practices and service delivery in health care, social service, and law enforcement settings. This research should include examination of the effects of training on the health and mental health status of those who receive services, including short- and long-term outcomes such as empowerment, freedom from violence, recovery from trauma, and rebuilding of life. Evaluations should also examine the role of training programs as catalysts for innovative and collaborative services. They should consider the extent to which training programs influence the behavior of agency personnel, including the interaction of service providers with professionals from other institutional settings, their participation in comprehensive community service programs, and the exposure of personal experiences in institutions charged with providing interventions for abuse.

Universal Screening in Health Care Settings

The significant role of health care and social service professionals in screening for victimization by all forms of family violence deserves critical analysis and rigorous evaluation. Early detection of child maltreatment, spousal violence, and elder abuse is believed to lead to an infusion of treatment and preventive services that can reduce exposure to harm, mitigate the negative consequences of abuse and neglect, improve health outcomes, and reduce the need for future health services. Screening programs can also enhance primary prevention efforts by providing information, education, and awareness of resources in the community. The benefits associated with early detection need to be balanced against risks presented by false positives and false negatives associated with large-scale screening efforts and programs characterized by inadequate staff training and responses.

Such efforts also need to consider whether appropriate treatment, protection, and support services are available for victims or offenders once they have been detected.

The use of enhanced screening instruments also requires attention to the need for services that can respond effectively to the large caseloads generated by expanded detection activities. The child protective services literature suggests that increased reporting can diminish the capacity of agencies to respond effectively if additional resources are not available to support enhanced services as well as screening.

The use of screening instruments in health care and social service settings for batterer identification and treatment is more problematic, given the lack of knowledge about factors that enhance or discourage their violent behavior. Screening only victims may be insufficient to provide a full picture of family violence; however, screening batterers may increase the danger for their victims, especially if batterer treatment interventions are not available or are not reliable in providing effective treatment and if support services are not available for victims once a perpetrator is identified. Screening adults for histories of childhood abuse, which may help prevent future victimization of the patient or others, may also be problematic without adequate training or mental health services to deal with the possible resurgence of trauma.

Evaluation studies of family violence screening efforts could build on the lessons derived from screening research in other health care areas (such as HIV detection, lead exposure, sickle cell, and others). This research could provide data that would support or contradict the theory that early identification is a useful secondary prevention intervention, especially in areas in which appropriate services may not be available or reliable. The cost issues associated with universal screening need to be considered in terms of their implications for savings in possible cost reductions from consequent conditions (such as the health consequences of HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and the exacerbation of other medical conditions) that may occur in other health care areas. Finally, the risks associated with screening (such as the establishment of a preexisting condition that may influence insurance eligibility) require consideration; such issues are already being addressed by some advocacy groups, insurance corporations, and regulatory bodies in the health care area.

Mental Health and Counseling Services

Little is known at present regarding the comparative effectiveness of different forms of therapeutic services for victims of family violence. Findings from recent studies of child physical and sexual abuse suggest that certain approaches (specifically cognitive-behavioral programs) are associated with more positive outcomes for parents, such as reducing aggressive/coercive behavior, compared

with family therapy and routine community mental health services. No treatment outcome studies have been conducted in the area of child neglect. Interventions in this field generally draw on approaches for dealing with other childhood and adolescent problems with similar symptom profiles.

For domestic violence, research evaluations are in the early stages of design and empirical data are not yet available to guide analyses of the effectiveness of different approaches. Major challenges include the absence of agreement regarding key psychosocial outcomes of interest in assessing the effectiveness of interventions, variations in the use of treatment protocols designed for post-traumatic stress for individuals who may still be experiencing traumatic situations, tensions between protocol-driven models of treatment (which are easier to evaluate) and those that are driven by the needs of the client or the context in which the violence occurred, the co-occurrence of trauma and other problems (such as prior victimization, depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders) that may have preceded the violence but require mental health services, and the difficulty of involving victims in follow-up studies after the completion of treatment. Variations in the context in which mental health services are provided for victims of domestic violence (such as isolated services, managed care programs, and services that are incorporated into an array of social support programs, including housing and job counseling) also require attention. Topics of special interest include contextual issues, such as the general lack of access to quality mental health services for women without sufficient independent income, and the danger of psychiatric diagnoses being used against battered women in child custody cases.

Collaborative efforts are needed to provide opportunities for the exchange of methodology, research measures, and designs to foster the development of controlled studies that can compare the results of innovative treatment approaches with routine counseling programs in community services.

Comprehensive Community Initiatives

Evaluations of batterer treatment programs, protective orders, and arrest policies suggest that the role of these individual interventions may be enhanced if they are part of a broad-based strategy to address family violence. The development of comprehensive, community-based interventions has become extremely widespread in the 1990s; examples include domestic violence coordinating councils, child advocacy centers, and elder abuse task forces. A few communities (most notably Duluth, Minnesota, and Quincy, Massachusetts) have developed systemwide strategies to coordinate their law enforcement and other service responses to domestic violence.

Comprehensive community-based interventions must confront difficult challenges, both in the design and implementation of such services, and in the selection of appropriate measures to assess their effectiveness. Many evaluations of comprehensive community-based interventions have focused primarily on the

design and implementation process, to determine whether an individual program had incorporated sufficient range and diversity among formal and informal networks so that it can achieve a significant impact in the community. This type of process evaluation does not necessarily require new methods of assessment or analysis, although it can benefit from recent developments in the evaluation literature, such as the empowerment evaluations discussed in Chapter 3 .

In contrast, the evaluation challenges that emerge from large-scale community-based efforts are formidable. First, it may be difficult to determine when an intervention has reached an appropriate stage of implementation to warrant a rigorous assessment of its effects. Second, the implementation of a community-wide intervention may be accompanied by a widespread social movement against family violence, so that it becomes difficult to distinguish the effects of the intervention itself from the impact of changing cultural and social norms that influence behavior. In some cases, the effects attributed to the intervention may appear weak, because they are overwhelmed by the impact of the social movement itself. Third, the selection of an appropriate comparison or control group for community-wide interventions presents formidable problems in terms of matching social and structural characteristics and compensating for community-to-community variation in record keeping.

These challenges require close attention to the emerging knowledge associated with the evaluation of comprehensive community-wide interventions in areas unrelated to family violence, so that important design, theory, and measurement insights can be applied to the special needs of programs focused on child maltreatment, domestic violence, and elder abuse. Although no single model of service integration, comprehensive services, or community change can be endorsed at this time, a range of interesting community service designs has emerged that have achieved widespread popularity and support at the local level. Because their primary focus is often on prevention, rather than treatment, comprehensive community interventions have the potential to achieve change across multiple levels of interactions affecting individuals, families, communities, and social norms and thus reduce the scope and severity of family violence as well as contribute to remedies to other important social problems.

A growing research literature has appeared in other fields, particularly in the area of substance abuse and community development, that identifies the conceptual frameworks, data collection, and methodological issues that need to be considered in designing evaluation studies for community-based and systemwide interventions. As an example, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has funded a series of studies designed to improve methodologies for the evaluation of community-based substance abuse prevention programs that offer important building blocks for the field of family violence interventions.

Developing effective evaluation strategies for comprehensive and systemwide programs is one of the most challenging issues for the research community

in this field. No evaluations have been conducted to date to examine the relative advantages of comprehensive and systemwide community initiatives compared with traditional services. Evaluations need to consider the mix of components in comprehensive interventions that determine their effectiveness and successful implementation; the comparative strengths and limitations of inter- and intra-agency interventions; community factors, such as political leadership, historical tensions, diversity of ethnic/cultural composition, and resource allocation strategies; and the impact of comprehensive interventions on the capacity of service agencies to provide traditional care and effective responses to reports of family violence.

Shelter Programs and Other Domestic Violence Services

Over time, most battered women's shelters have expanded their services to encompass far more than the provision of refuge. Today, many shelters have support groups for women residents, support groups for child residents, emergency and transitional housing, and legal and welfare advocacy. Nonresidential services also have expanded, so that any battered woman in the community is able to attend a support group or request advocacy services. Many agencies now offer educational groups for men who batter, as well as programs dealing with dating violence. Some communities have never opened a shelter yet are able to offer support groups, advocacy, crisis intervention, and safe homes (neighbors sheltering a neighbor, for example) to help battered women and their families in times of crisis. In addition to providing services for victims, the battered women service organizations also define their goal as transforming the conditions and norms that support violence against women. Thus these organizations work as agents of social change in their communities to improve the community-wide response to battered women and their children.

Shelter services and battered women's support organizations are ready for evaluations that can identify program outcomes and compare the effectiveness of different service interventions. Research studies are also needed that can describe the multiple goals and theories that shape the program objectives of these interventions, provide detailed histories of the ways in which different service systems have been implemented, and examine the characteristics of the women who do or do not use or benefit from them.

Protective Orders

Protective orders can be an important part of the prevention strategy for domestic violence and help document the record of assaults and threatening actions. The low priority traditionally assigned to the handling of protective orders, which are usually treated as civil matters in police agencies, requires attention, as do the procedural requirements of the legal system. Courts have

accepted alternative forms of due process, including public notice, notice by mail, and other forms of notification that do not require personal contact. Efforts are needed now to compare the effectiveness of short-term (30-day) restraining orders with a longer (1-year) protective order in reducing violent behavior by offenders and securing access to legal and support services for the complainants.

In-depth case studies and interviews with victims who have had police and court contacts because of domestic violence are needed to highlight individual, social, and institutional factors that facilitate or inhibit victim use of and perpetrator compliance with protective orders in different community settings. Such studies could (1) reveal patterns of help-seeking contacts and services that affect the use of protective orders and compliance with their requirements, (2) highlight the forms of sanctions that are appropriate to ensure compliance and to deter future violent behavior, (3) explore the extent to which the effects of protective orders are enhanced in reducing violence if victim advocates, shelter services, or other social support resources are available and are used by the victim in redefining the terms of her relationship with her partner, and (4) examine the extent to which protective orders can mitigate the consequences of violence for children who may have been assaulted or who may have witnessed an assault against their mother.

Child Fatality Review Panels

The emergence of child fatality review teams in 21 states since 1978 represents an innovative effort in many communities to address systemwide implications of severe violence against children and infants. Child fatality review teams involve a multiagency effort to compile and integrate information about child deaths and to review and evaluate the record of caseworkers and agencies in providing services to these children when a report of abuse or neglect had been made prior to a child's death. These review teams can provide an opportunity to examine the quality of a community's total approach to child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment.

The experience of child fatality review teams in identifying systemic features that enhance or weaken agency efforts to protect children needs to be evaluated and made accessible to individual service providers in health, legal, and social service agencies. Key research issues include: the effect of review team actions on the protection of family members of children who have died as a result of child maltreatment; the impact of child fatality review reports on the prosecution of offenders; the influence of review team efforts on the routine investigation, treatment, and prevention activities of participating agencies; the impact of review teams on other community child protection and domestic violence prevention efforts; and the identification of early warning signals that emerge in child homicide investigations that represent opportunities for preventive interventions.

Child Witness to Violence Programs

Child witness programs represent an important development in the evolution of comprehensive approaches to family violence, but they have not yet been evaluated. Evaluation studies of these programs should examine the experience with symptomatology among children who witness family violence, to determine whether and for whom early intervention influences the course of development of social and mental health consequences, such as depression, anxiety, emotional detachment, aggression and violence, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Such studies could also compare variations in the developmental histories of children who witness violence with those of children who are injured or otherwise are directly victimized by their parents or who witness violence in their communities. Evaluation studies should consider the recommended forms of treatment for these children, the standards of eligibility that determine their placement in treatment programs, and the impact of institutional setting (hospital, shelter, or social service agency) and reimbursement plans on the quality of the treatment.

Elder Abuse Services

Only seven program evaluation studies have been published on elder abuse interventions, none of which includes random groups and most of which involve small sample sizes. Three major issues challenge effective interventions in this area: the degree of dependence between perpetrators and victims, restricted social services budgets, general public distrust of social welfare programs, and the relationship between judgments about competence and the application of the principles of self-determination and privacy to the problem of elder abuse.

Evaluation studies should consider the different types and multiple dimensions of elder abuse in the development of effective interventions. The benefits of specific programs need to be compared with integrated service systems that are designed to foster the well-being of the elderly population without regard to special circumstances. Evaluation research should be integrated into community service programs and agency efforts on behalf of elderly persons to foster studies that involve the use of comparison and control groups, common measures, and the assessment of outcomes associated with different forms of service interventions.

Topics For Basic Research

The committee identified four basic research topics that require further development to inform policy and practice. These topics raise fundamental questions about the approaches that should be used in designing treatment, prevention, and enforcement strategies. As such, they highlight important dimensions of family violence that should be addressed in a research agenda for the field.

birth, infancy, and adolescence. Other issues linked to family formation include the use of corporal punishment in child discipline, gender roles, privacy, and strategies for resolving conflict among adults or siblings.

A third approach would be studies to discern the protective factors inside and outside families that enable some children who are exposed to violence to not only survive but also to develop coping mechanisms that serve them well later in life. This analysis would have widespread implications for assessing the impact of biological and experiential factors in specific domains, such as fear, anxiety, self-blame, identity formation, helplessness, and help-seeking behaviors. Such research could also identify abuse-related coping strategies (such as excessive distrust of or overdependence on others) that may contribute to other problems that emerge in the course of adolescent and adult development.

first-time parents, victims and offenders who have substance abuse histories, etc.)

Forging Partnerships Between Research And Practice

Although it is premature to expect research to offer definitive answers about the relative effectiveness of the array of current service and enforcement strategies, the committee sees valuable opportunities that now exist to accelerate the rate by which service providers can identify the types of individuals, families, and communities that may benefit from certain types or combinations of service and enforcement interventions. Major challenges must be addressed, however, to improve the overall quality of the evaluations of family violence interventions and to provide a research base that can inform policy and practice. These challenges include issues of study design and methodology as well as logistical concerns that must be resolved in order to conduct research in open service systems where the research investigator is not able to control factors that may weaken the study design and influence its outcome. The resolution of these challenges will require collaborative partnerships between researchers, service providers, and policy makers to generate common approaches and data sources.

The integration of research and practice in the field of family violence, as in many other areas of human services, has occurred on a haphazard basis. As a result, program sponsors, service providers, clients, victims, researchers, and community representatives have not been able to learn in a systematic manner from the diverse experiences of both large and small programs. Mayors, judges, police officers, caseworkers, child and victim advocates, health professionals, and others must make life-or-death decisions each day in the face of tremendous

uncertainty, often relying on conflicting reports, anecdotal data, and inconsistent information in judging the effectiveness of specific interventions.

The development of creative partnerships between the research and practice communities would greatly improve the targeting of limited resources to specific clients who can benefit most from a particular type of intervention. Yet significant barriers inhibit the development of such partnerships, including disagreements about the nature and origins of family violence, broad variations in the conceptual frameworks that guide service delivery, differences over the relative merits of service and research, a lack of faith in the ability of research to inform and improve services, a lack of trust in the ability of service providers to inform the design of research experiments and the formation of theoretical frameworks, and concerns about fairness and safety in including victims and offenders in experimental treatment groups. These fundamental differences obscure identification of outcomes of interest in the development of evaluation studies, which are further complicated by limitations in study design and access to appropriate subjects that are necessary for the conduct of research.

Even if greater levels of trust fostered more interaction between the research community and service providers, collaborative efforts would be challenged by factors such as the lack of funding for empirical studies, the availability of limited resources to support studies over appropriate time frames, and the social and economic characteristics of some of the populations served by family violence interventions that make them difficult to follow over extended periods of time (chaotic households, high mobility of the client population, concerns for safety, lack of telephones and permanent residences, etc.).

Service providers and program sponsors have often been skeptical of efforts to evaluate the impact of a selected intervention, knowing that critical or premature assessments could jeopardize the program's future and restrict future opportunities for service delivery. Service providers have also been less than enthusiastic in seeking program evaluations, knowing that the programs to be evaluated have been underfunded and are understaffed and present a less than ideal situation; in their view, the assessment may diminish future resources and affect the development of a particular strategy or programmatic approach. The tremendous demand for services and the limited availability of staff resources create a pressured environment in which the staff time involved in filling out forms for research purposes is seen as being sacrificed from time that might be used to serve people in need. In some cases, research funds support demonstration programs that are highly valued by a community, yet few resources are available to support them once the research phase has been completed.

Researchers and service providers need to resolve the programmatic tensions that have sometimes surfaced in contentious debates over the type of services that should be put into place in addressing problems of family violence. The mistrust and skepticism present major challenges that need to resolved before the technical challenges to effective evaluations can be addressed. A reformulation of the

research process is needed so that, while building a long-term capacity to focus on complex issues and conduct rigorous studies, researchers can also provide useful information to service providers.

The committee has identified three major principles to help integrate research and practice in the field of family violence interventions:

• Evaluation should be an integral part of any major intervention, particularly those that are designed to be replicated in multiple communities. Interventions have often been put into place without a research base to support them or rigorous evaluation efforts to guide their development. Evaluation research based on theoretical models is needed to link program goals and operational objectives with multiple program components and outcomes. Intensive marketing and praise for a particular intervention or program should no longer be a substitute for empirical data in determining the effectiveness of programs that are intended to be replicated in multiple sites.
• Coordinating policy, program, and research agendas will improve family violence interventions. Evaluation research will help program sponsors and managers clarify program goals and experience and identify areas in need of attention because of the difficulties of implementation, the use of resources, and changes in the client base. Research and data-based analysis can guide ongoing program and policy efforts if evaluation studies are integrated into the design and development of interventions. The knowledge base can be improved by (1) framing key hypotheses that can be tested by existing or new services, (2) building statistical models to explore the system-wide effects of selected interventions and compare these effects with the consequences of collaborative and comprehensive approaches, (3) using common definitions and measures to facilitate comparisons across individual studies, (4) using appropriate comparison and control groups in evaluation studies, including random assignment, when possible, (5) developing culturally sensitive research designs and measures, (6) identifying relevant outcomes in the assessment of selected interventions, and (7) developing alternative designs when traditional design methodology cannot be used for legal, ethical, or practical reasons.
• Surmounting existing barriers to collaboration between research and practice communities requires policy incentives and leadership to foster partnership efforts. Many interventions are not evaluated because of limited funds, because the individuals involved in service delivery consider research to be peripheral to the needs of their clients, because the researchers are disinterested in studying the complexity of service delivery systems and the impact of violence in clients' lives, or because research methods are not yet available to assess outcomes that result from the complex interaction of multiple systems. This situation will continue until program sponsors and policy officials exercise leadership to build partnerships between the research and practice communities and to provide funds for rigorous evaluations in the development of service and law enforcement
• interventions. Additional steps are required to foster a more constructive dialogue and partnership between the research and practice communities.

Partnership efforts are also needed to focus research attention on the particular implementation of an individual program rather than the strategy behind the program design. Promising intervention strategies may be discarded prematurely because of special circumstances that obstructed full implementation of the program. Conversely, programs that offer only limited effectiveness may appear to be successful on the basis of evaluation studies that did not consider the significant points of vulnerability and limitations in the service design or offer a comparative analysis with the benefits to be derived from routine services.

The establishment and documentation of a series of consensus conferences on relevant outcomes, and appropriate measurement tools, will strengthen and enhance evaluations of family violence interventions and lead to improvements in the design of programs, interventions, and strategies. May opportunities currently exist for research to inform the design and assessment of treatment and prevention interventions. In addition, service providers can help guide researchers in the identification of appropriate domains in which program effects may occur but are currently not being examined. Ongoing dialogues can guide the identification and development of instruments and methods that can capture the density and distribution of relevant effects that are not well understood. The organization of a series of consensus conferences by sponsors in public and private agencies that are concerned with the future quality of family violence interventions would be an important contribution to the development of this field.

Reports of mistreated children, domestic violence, and abuse of elderly persons continue to strain the capacity of police, courts, social services agencies, and medical centers. At the same time, myriad treatment and prevention programs are providing services to victims and offenders. Although limited research knowledge exists regarding the effectiveness of these programs, such information is often scattered, inaccessible, and difficult to obtain.

Violence in Families takes the first hard look at the successes and failures of family violence interventions. It offers recommendations to guide services, programs, policy, and research on victim support and assistance, treatments and penalties for offenders, and law enforcement. Included is an analysis of more than 100 evaluation studies on the outcomes of different kinds of programs and services.

Violence in Families provides the most comprehensive review on the topic to date. It explores the scope and complexity of family violence, including identification of the multiple types of victims and offenders, who require different approaches to intervention. The book outlines new strategies that offer promising approaches for service providers and researchers and for improving the evaluation of prevention and treatment services. Violence in Families discusses issues that underlie all types of family violence, such as the tension between family support and the protection of children, risk factors that contribute to violent behavior in families, and the balance between family privacy and community interventions.

The core of the book is a research-based review of interventions used in three institutional sectors—social services, health, and law enforcement settings—and how to measure their effectiveness in combating maltreatment of children, domestic violence, and abuse of the elderly. Among the questions explored by the committee: Does the child protective services system work? Does the threat of arrest deter batterers? The volume discusses the strength of the evidence and highlights emerging links among interventions in different institutional settings.

Thorough, readable, and well organized, Violence in Families synthesizes what is known and outlines what needs to be discovered. This volume will be of great interest to policymakers, social services providers, health care professionals, police and court officials, victim advocates, researchers, and concerned individuals.

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Essay on Violence

Students are often asked to write an essay on Violence in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Violence

Understanding violence.

Violence refers to acts that cause harm to others. It can be physical like hitting, or emotional like bullying. It’s a serious issue that can lead to pain, fear, and even death.

Types of Violence

There are various types of violence such as domestic, school, or gang violence. Each type is harmful and can negatively affect a person’s life.

Effects of Violence

Violence can cause physical injuries and mental trauma. It can also lead to societal problems like crime and unrest.

Preventing Violence

Education and understanding are key to preventing violence. It’s important to treat others with respect and kindness.

Violence is a harmful act that we should strive to prevent. By promoting peace and understanding, we can make a difference.

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250 Words Essay on Violence

Introduction.

Violence, an act of physical force resulting in harm or damage, is a pervasive and complex issue in society. It manifests in various forms, from interpersonal violence in families to mass violence in wars, affecting individuals and societies at large.

Forms of Violence

Violence takes multiple forms, including physical, mental, and emotional. Physical violence is the most visible, involving direct harm or threat. Mental and emotional violence, though less apparent, can be equally devastating, involving manipulation, coercion, and psychological abuse.

The Roots of Violence

The roots of violence often lie in power dynamics, socio-economic factors, and cultural norms. Factors such as poverty, social inequality, and cultural practices can perpetuate violent behaviors. Moreover, exposure to violence in early life often leads to a cycle of violence, as victims may become perpetrators.

Impact of Violence

Violence has far-reaching impacts, not only causing immediate harm but also long-term physical, mental, and social consequences. It hinders social development and economic growth, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

Addressing Violence

Addressing violence requires a comprehensive approach that involves legal, educational, and social measures. Legal measures include laws and regulations to prevent and punish violence. Educational measures involve teaching empathy and conflict resolution skills. Social measures, such as economic empowerment and social support, can help address underlying factors.

In conclusion, violence is a significant issue with deep roots and broad impacts. Addressing it requires concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and societies to create a world free from violence.

500 Words Essay on Violence

The concept of violence.

Violence, a pervasive element in society, is a complex, multifaceted issue that demands careful examination. It is characterized by behaviors involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. Violence has been a part of human history since time immemorial, with its roots deeply embedded in the human psyche, societal norms, and cultural practices.

The Manifestations of Violence

Violence manifests in numerous forms, from physical aggression and verbal abuse to systemic oppression and psychological harm. It can be categorized into interpersonal violence, collective violence, and self-directed violence. Interpersonal violence includes domestic abuse and child maltreatment, while collective violence involves social, political, or economic conflicts such as wars or terrorism. Self-directed violence, on the other hand, includes self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

The Psychological Underpinnings of Violence

Psychologically, violence can be viewed as an outcome of a complex interplay of individual, relational, and societal factors. At the individual level, factors such as personality disorders, low self-esteem, or a history of violence can predispose a person towards violent behavior. Relational factors include family dynamics, peer influence, and intimate relationships. Societal factors encompass broader issues like economic disparities, social inequality, and cultural norms that perpetuate violence.

The Impact of Violence

The impact of violence extends beyond the immediate harm to the victim. It has far-reaching consequences on the mental, physical, and social well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Victims of violence often experience psychological trauma, physical injuries, and in severe cases, death. The societal consequences include a cycle of violence passed down generations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced social cohesion.

Preventing violence requires a comprehensive, multi-level approach. At the individual level, interventions include mental health support and skill development programs. At the relational level, family and community-based interventions can help create a supportive environment. At the societal level, policy measures aimed at reducing social inequalities and promoting cultural change are crucial.

Concluding Thoughts

Violence is a complex issue that cannot be reduced to a single cause or solution. Its roots lie in the intricate web of individual, relational, and societal factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective interventions. As we move forward, it is essential to foster a culture of empathy, respect, and non-violence, promoting a more peaceful and inclusive society for all.

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Essay On Domestic Violence

500 words essay on domestic violence.

Domestic violence refers to the violence and abuse which happens in a domestic setting like cohabitation or marriage. It is important to remember that domestic violence is not just physical but any kind of behaviour that tries to gain power and control over the victim. It can affect people from all walks of life and it basically subjects towards a partner, spouse or intimate family member. Through an essay on domestic violence, we will go through its causes and effects.

Causes of Domestic Violence

Often women and children are the soft targets of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a gruesome crime that also causes a number of deaths. Some of the most common causes of domestic violence are illiteracy and economical dependency on the menfolk.

The male-dominated society plays an important role in this problem. Further, dowry is also one of the leading causes which have the consequence of violence against newly-wed brides. In many parts of the world, physically assaulting women and passing horrendous remarks is common.

Moreover, children also become victims of this inhuman behaviour more than often. It is important to recognize the double standards and hypocrisy of society. A lot of the times, the abuser is either psychotic or requires psychological counselling.

However, in a more general term, domestic violence is the outcome of cumulative irresponsible behaviour which a section of society demonstrates. It is also important to note that solely the abuser is not just responsible but also those who allow this to happen and act as mere mute spectators.

Types of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence has many ill-effects which depend on the kind of domestic violence happening. It ranges from being physical to emotional and sexual to economic. A physical abuser uses physical force which injures the victim or endangers their life.

It includes hitting, punching, choking, slapping, and other kinds of violence. Moreover, the abuser also denies the victim medical care. Further, there is emotional abuse in which the person threatens and intimidates the victim. It also includes undermining their self-worth.

It includes threatening them with harm or public humiliation. Similarly, constant name-calling and criticism also count as emotional abuse. After that, we have sexual abuse in which the perpetrator uses force for unwanted sexual activity.

If your partner does not consent to it, it is forced which makes it sexual abuse. Finally, we have economic abuse where the abuser controls the victim’s money and their economic resources.

They do this to exert control on them and make them dependent solely on them. If your partner has to beg you for money, then it counts as economic abuse. This damages the self-esteem of the victim.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Domestic Violence

To conclude, domestic violence has many forms which include physical aggression like kicking and biting and it can also be sexual or emotional. It is essential to recognize the signs of domestic violence and report the abuser if it is happening around you or to you.

FAQ of Essay on Domestic Violence

Question 1: Why is domestic violence an issue?

Answer 1: Domestic violence has a major impact on the general health and wellbeing of individuals. It is because it causes physical injury, anxiety, depression. Moreover, it also impairs social skills and increases the likelihood that they will participate in practices harmful to their health, like self-harm or substance abuse.

Question 2: How does domestic violence affect a woman?

Answer 2: Domestic violence affects women in terms of ill health. It causes serious consequences on their mental and physical health which includes reproductive and sexual health. It also includes injuries, gynaecological problems, depression, suicide and more.

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Causes of Family Violence Essay

Aggression and violence in modern families.

The topic of domestic violence is often discussed in psychological researches and published in scientific and mass magazines. Domestic violence can be observed from different points: either psychological or physical. The latter includes not only beating, but sexual actions and debauches. However I might admit that psychological trauma may be as painful as physical one. It suppresses children’s feeling of happiness, love and identity. As a result children suffer from certain inner disorder. It often leads to criminal actions, asocial behavior or even parents murder.

The problem needs deep complex research with the help of psychologists, medical scientists, sociologists, lawyers etc. Violence against children faces moral accusation and criminal punishment as well. Psychologists, government and other institutions wishing to solve the problem, take certain measures to change the threatening situation. However not much of them appeared to be really efficient. Violence often takes place in families with high level of conflicts, drug and alcohol problems, unlawful behavior and asocial values.

In 2005 the psychological mass magazine “The Family” published an article “Insensible child” dealing with the family violence. The author, Russian psychologist, admits that violence against children reveals in different cases. 85% of all the cases deal with parental violence. The major part of them is physical actions. Why do children suffer? Reasons can be various. It is much more important to find out why parents treat their children in such a way. The article tells a story of 11year old Edic, who was supposed to steal money from his parents. At least his parents thought so. He also had problems at school. Teachers and classmates were dissatisfied with his behavior. He used to be rude, inattentive, naughty and sometimes violent to classmates. Once the teacher took away a cassette, which Edic was holding during the lesson. The teacher was curious to find out what the cassette contained. However instead of usual music, there were voices. Soon the teacher understood that the boy recorded what was going on at home. It explained much to the teacher. The cassette contained rude words and expressions towards the son. The teacher didn’t dare to speak about it with the boy. The next day Edic came to school with hard bruises. As a result, however, it became evident that boy’s mother just didn’t count money properly and made a mistake. The conflicts in this family began from a trifle. But the behavior of parents defined further behavior of their son. He became insensible, rude and violent towards other people. Parents were careless to their words and affected the innocent soul of their son. They accused him of robbery and it spoilt his psyche. They didn’t listen to what he was saying, didn’t trust him. As children tend to copy what they see, it is possible that the boy won’t trust people either. Later it revealed that Edic began to rob at school. Words of parents are of great power. They can both cure and hurt. In our case parents nudged the boy to illegal actions, close to real crime. Sometimes parental words can even lead to suicide, let along improper actions.

Teachers at school wondered why Edic was so nervous, rude and unpredictable. Everything was later explained by careless behavior of his parents. His mother had an explosive character. Edic naturally took after his parents changeable and explosive features of character. A child living in the conditions of violence, suffer from inevitable problems. He tries to save faith and trust in people, but it appears to be impossible in such circumstances. He has to control the situation and possess strength of character to resist the oppression. The article shows definite picture of what the boy felt in such living conditions. Violent treatment of parents destroys the calmness of child’s inner world. The child loses himself and becomes violent and insensible as well. Some children admit that they even didn’t feel physical pain, let alone lack of emotions. Children get offended towards the whole world and lose faith.

According to World association of health protection, 40 million children suffer from different forms of violence every year, in the whole world. However there is another striking statistics: only 10% of parents, who violently treat their children, are proved to be mentally unstable. What about other 90%? If they are normal people, how on Earth could they reveal such cruelty? But speaking about the reasons of parents’ violence I can’t help saying about socio-economical factors. These are lack of working places and money itself, poor living conditions, low salaries etc. All these factors lead to stress in the first place. And stress results in violent treatment of children and other family members. On the one hand such behavior can’t be accused to full extent. Parents do have reasons to feel depressed and disappointed. But why should children suffer from mental disorder of their parents. Secondly apart from psychological disorder, parents may appear to have negative personal experience, unhappy childhood or lack of pedagogical skills. But in both cases, children are absolutely innocent and these are parents to think over their behavior and understanding of life.

It’s no doubt that this problem should be somehow solved. But there are certain factors which hinder this attempt to come true. It may surprise but one of them is children themselves. The matter is that some children (especially teenagers) are afraid of talking about violence from the side of their parents. Firstly it’s always shameful to reveal such moments of personal life. Secondly children are afraid of possible consequences. Children are more likely to hide everything inside their wounded soul.

Researcher Andrew J. Cherlin made an attempt to observe the question thoroughly. His work “Public and Private Families” concerns both personal experience of people and their place in society. The article deals with different family problems including divorce, unhappy marriage and family violence as well.

What may provoke parents for aggression?

Andrew Cherlin takes into account great variety of serious problems, their reasons and consequences. The problem of parents’ aggression can be observed from different sides. Sometimes parents just try to take measures to discipline their children. Some of them would try to affect children morally. Others would use physical strength. For instance, if parents were reported about their child’s improper behavior and poor learning at school, they would probably become outrageous and take strict measures. The reason is that they felt ashamed for their children. The punishment in this case can be neither objective nor fair. That’s why it’s useless to expect some changes for the best. Children are more likely to behave as they used to. Parents however become desperate, wondering why his measures appeared to be of no use. Such cases are numerous. They only prove the imperfection of average un-bringing.

Andrew Cherlin talks about private family (our personal families), and public family, which defines the development of further generations. Andrew Cherlin explains the situation from different perspectives: what is the family, what affects it and what is the family atmosphere influenced by? In the first chapter Cherlin thinks of what do changes bring to family, whether evolution is beneficial or not. From modernity perspective Cherlin speaks of nontraditional families, which included divorces, remarriages etc. He explains possible reasons for improper behavior of growing children. Why do they act in one or another way? Cherlin emphasizes that family relationship is of great importance in this way.

From exchange perspective Cherlin admits that sometimes the very structure of the family changes. He analyses dynamic changes in what is considered to be traditional family structure. I mean that in some families, roles of children and parents seem to change. Parents act in a childish way. And children have to bare the burden of parental responsibilities. Cherlin analyses how it affects the child’s psychology and what can be done to improve the situation. On the one hand it is not a big problem, but it still can greatly affect the child’s understanding of life. Specific structure of relationships became a threat to happy family life and can do a lot of harm. The child copies the behavior of parents and acts similarly. However some models of behavior can be rather harmful.

Cherlin’s book gives an impression of a deep research on the problem of domestic violence. It also deals with the children in stepfamilies, indicates problems which children have to face. The situation can’t be improved by the government. Only the strong will of family members themselves can probably do something. Apart from this qualified support of professionals is needed as well. As for perspective from evolutionary psychology, the situation is quite deep. Cherlin writes that escaping from violence at home; children and teenager tend to commit suicide or leave their families and become beggars. But these are the consequences. On the other hand psychologists try to find out the reasons and think over possible ways out.

In conclusion I consider it’s important to say that whatever causes domestic violence, it can’t be justified any way. This topic is still being researched. What way out can be suggested in this situation?

Parents should understand personal responsibility for their children’s happy life. But they should take into account not only their personal views but children’s needs as well. Family is responsible for moral support and formation of self-confidence. On the whole, the problem of domestic violence should be solved not only with the help of psychologists, but parents and their children as well.

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What are the effects of domestic violence on the family?

Many believe that the home is supposed to be a safe space in which to grow up, develop and thrive. After all—we might often rely on those closest to us for support, compassion and guidance as we get our start. With this in mind, when the home is a setting for violence, there can be severe and wide-ranging effects across the family. 

Domestic violence—defined by many as violent behavior on the part of an intimate partner, family member or other close relation—can lead to serious mental and physical effects, some of which may not be readily apparent. While people who are in abusive relationships might have a hard time removing themselves from the situation, there can be options made available that can help them take the next steps toward having a healthy, safe home environment. 

This article will cover many of the effects of domestic violence on families and provide possible options for survivors to get support. 

What is domestic violence?

To understand the effects of domestic violence on the family, it can be important to understand what is meant by the term “domestic violence”—also called intimate partner violence when involving a romantic relationship. In short, it can involve the physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse of one person (or people) by another (or others).

Common forms of abuse can include unwanted physical contact, ranging from occasional shoving to sexual assault or rape; emotional manipulation, including “gaslighting”, accusations of infidelity or threats of harm—as well as asserting control through denial of financial support or other resources.

The abuser might be the stronger one in the relationship in many cases—and through violence, they might use this strength to exert control over the other person. Though women and children, along with the elderly, are generally regarded as the most common survivors of domestic violence, men can also experience abuse. 

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, finding help can be key to long-term recovery—whether through legal action, a domestic violence hotline, mental health care or other channels.

Who is affected by domestic violence?

Domestic violence can affect people from all backgrounds, races, and classes. According to the CDC, domestic violence is a reality for approximately 41% of women in the US, while a reported 33% of men experience intimate partner violence in their lives. Additionally, one out of every seven children in the United States will experience abuse or neglect. 

Though domestic violence is generally regarded as a widespread issue, it often goes unreported—making its true prevalence hard to grasp. Many people who experience abuse do not report it due to various factors, such as fear of retaliation, lack of reach to resources and concern regarding the response of others.  

Having conversat ions about domestic violence and listening to the stories of survivors can be a vital part of addressing the issue successfully.

Effects of domestic violence on adults

It can be important to note that people can respond to traumatic events in different ways, and that the effects of abuse can vary from person to person. However, understanding the general effects can create a more empathetic and supportive societal experience for abuse survivors. We’ve listed possible effects of abuse below: 

Many who experience domestic violence can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that women, for example, who experience intimate partner violence statistically develop PTSD at a rate of between 51% and 75%—which is well above the approximately 10% rate experienced by the general population of women. 

Other mental health concerns that can develop following abuse include depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorder. Additionally, the person being abused may feel that they’ve lost control—or in some cases, start to believe that they deserve it—which can lead to self-esteem struggles in general.  

The physical effects of abuse can include bruising, fractured bones, tension, disruptions in dietary or sleep patterns and exhaustion. The survivor may try to cover up these signs of abuse with long clothing or makeup, so as not to draw attention from other members of society or the home. 

Additionally, individuals who are experiencing abuse might exhibit behavior that is uncharacteristic. For example: Someone who is normally happy and energetic may become withdrawn and reserved. 

If you notice that someone in your life is displaying some of these signs or experiencing the above effects, you might consider reaching and offering support in a safe and appropriate manner. 

Effects of domestic violence on children and adolescents

Children can experience the symptoms or signs of abuse listed above, as well as others. 

Even if a child is not directly abused, when they grow up in an environment of domestic abuse or violence, they may live with fear and intense feelings of sadness. This can lead to the formation of mental health conditions later on, such as depression and substance use disorder. 

A child growing up in an abusive environment may also struggle to visualize or prepare for the future, possibly leading to challenges in school and behavioral concerns. Children may also internalize the negative effects of abuse. The effects of domestic violence are not always easy to see. Some children experiencing domestic violence may try to hide it. Additional signs to watch for can include:

Low self-esteem

Hypervigilance

Regression and withdrawal

Aggression and disobedience

Trouble concentrating

Anxiety disorder formation

Sleep difficulties

Bed-wetting

Thumb-sucking

Frequent crying

Experiences of domestic violence may also manifest as physical symptoms. For instance: Anxiety disorders may present in the form of diarrhea, nausea, or hives. Symptoms may also change as children grow. Adolescents who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence may exhibit such symptoms as:

Poor grades, numerous absences, or dropping out of school entirely

Eating disorders

Becoming abusive themselves, either to their peers or their parents

Substance use disorder

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Physical injuries sustained from standing up to their abuser

Running away from home or looking for excuses not to go home

Suicidal thoughts (If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 and can be reached by calling or texting 988, or by chatting with a representative.)

Symptoms of trauma

Engaging in risky behaviors

Getting in trouble with the law

Trouble making or keeping friends

The severity of a child’s symptoms can increase over time and might depend on the length of time the child has been exposed to abuse, the extent of the abuse and the age of the child. However, with the right approach, a child can begin to heal and recover from these symptoms. 

Support for child survivors of domestic violence

Children deserve a home life that is safe and nurturing. Many may find that one of the best ways to support a child experiencing the effects of abuse is by helping to build their resilience . You can do this by helping foster a positive mindset, letting them know you’re there for them, giving them an outlet for their emotions and modeling healthy relationships for them. 

Therapy can also be a healthy way for children to work through trauma or other effects of domestic violence. Counseling can help children process their feelings, develop tools to control their emotions and find healthy ways to cope with their memories.

Support for adult survivors of domestic violence

If you are in a situation where you are experiencing, or are a survivor of, domestic violence, help is available. The following resources can connect you with support and guidance. 

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)

National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline (1-866-331-9474) or TTY (1-866-331-8453)

RAINN | National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) Choose #1 to talk to a counselor

RAINN’s online  chat

US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health – Provides a list of resources for domestic violence based on where you live.

These resources can help you develop a plan for removing yourself from whatever situation you are in, and can give you tips on keeping yourself safe. 

Telling someone what you’re going through can often be the first step toward getting help. You may consider contacting a trusted friend or family member who may be able to give you help in the form of a place to stay, financial support or advice. 

Online therapy can support you

If you’re living with mental health challenges related to domestic violence or similar concerns, know that help can be made available. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can choose to participate in therapy anonymously, which can make it more comfortable if you are living with domestic violence. 

You’ll also have the option of contacting your therapist outside of sessions; so, if you forgot to mention something during therapy or you have a question about trauma or abuse, you can send them a message, and they can respond when they’re able. 

Is online therapy effective?

Studies suggest that online therapy can help individuals cope with the effects of domestic violence. In one study, researchers examined the  effectiveness of online therapy for people who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression after surviving intimate partner violence. 

After treatment, 41.7% of participants no longer fit the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. 

The study also references and confirms the ability of online therapy to help many to overcome barriers like perceived stigma, which often prevents survivors of abuse from seeking help.  

What are the effects of domestic violence and conflicts?

Domestic violence and conflict in the home have a significant impact on the family. Although outcomes often vary, instability and fear within the family unit are typical. Individuals may experience increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and an overall state of diminished mental health. 

Children who experience or witness domestic violence may exhibit emotional and behavioral problems at school or in social situations. Children often experience depression, isolation, and anxiety. A wide swath of research suggests that children growing up in violent homes are at increased risk for developing problems during adolescence and adulthood, including incarceration, substance use disorders, and engaging in violent behavior themselves. 

The effects of familial strife often spread to areas of life that aren't immediately obvious. For example, abuse can have complex, adverse spiritual effects on some individuals. This may create a sense of hopelessness or emptiness, and, in some cases, individuals end up feeling suicidal.

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

What are the five effects of violence?

The effects of violence are shared across many contexts. For example, community violence can produce psychological trauma in individuals that leads to violent behavior at home. On an individual level, five psychological effects of domestic violence may include: 

• Antisocial Behavior
• Withdrawal And Isolation

How does domestic violence affect the victim mentality?

"Victim mentality" can be a tricky concept within the context of domestic violence. Sometimes, abusers may accuse their partner of having a "victim mentality" to minimize their role in the abuse. In other cases, the abuser may exhibit traits of victim mentality that "justifies" their abusive behavior.

In any case, it's vital for people to understand that abuse survivors' experiences are very real and should always be taken seriously. No survivor should ever have to shoulder any of the blame for their situation because they have a "victim mentality."

That said, domestic violence and psychological manipulation typically go hand-in-hand. An abuser may break down a survivor's mental state to convince them that they're to blame for the abuse and are operating under a victim mentality mindset. 

What are the five effects of abuse?

The ramifications of violence are far-reaching and may spread beyond the family unit to school, the workplace, and the community. At home, however, children are typically affected the most profoundly. When there is violence in the home, children may: 

• Have greater difficulty controlling their emotions— leading to more intense feelings of pain, anger, and sadness. As a result, kids may have nightmares, difficulty sleeping, problems interacting with others, and disruptions in development. 
• Have feelings of mistrust and fear towards others, creating serious interpersonal challenges that lead to withdrawal and isolation. Children from abusive homes may have increased difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy relationships into adulthood.
• Experience depression, panic attacks, and other psychological conditions due to the profound traumatic impact of violence. 
• Be more likely to perpetrate interpersonal violence as adolescents and adults.
• Experience decreased brain functioning due to the common physical effects of abuse . For example, traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children due to involuntary shaking changes how the brain regulates mood, memory, and cognitive functioning.

What are the four different effects of physical abuse?

The impacts of physical abuse are complex and often long-term. Four different ways that physical abuse can affect individuals include:

1. Physical

When unaddressed, physical abuse can result in permanent damage in the form of lifelong health problems, chronic illness, or death. Indeed, 2021 data from the American Society for the Positive Care of Children (American SPCC) indicates that five children die every day from child abuse . 

To avoid such outcomes, cases of physical abuse require swift intervention. Recognizing some of the signs of physical trauma can help individuals prevent permanent injuries and fatalities. If you suspect someone is being abused in the home, you might look for:

• Purple marks on the body from bruising.
• Neck sprain/Injury
• Cuts/Abrasions
• Bone Fractures/Breaks
• Lacerations

It's also prudent to note that abuse often results in psychological trauma with common physical symptoms such as trouble with the breath, muscle tension, fatigue, tremors, nausea, and heart palpitations.

2. Psychological

Abuse, particularly during childhood , can cause psychological trauma that individuals carry for an extended period or the rest of their lives. These often come in the form of mental illnesses such as PTSD, depression, severe anxiety, panic disorder, dissociative disorder, and personality disorders. 

Abuse can negatively impact a child's social development throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Many individuals with a history of abuse have attachment issues that make it difficult to form and maintain bonds with others. They might experience trust issues or self-esteem problems that cause social withdrawal and isolation. 

4. Developmental

Physical abuse has far-reaching consequences on a child's development. It can stunt brain growth, creating problems with cognitive development, memory loss, attentional difficulties, and learning disorders. 

What are the effects of abuse on the mind?

Child abuse and neglect can cause long-term impairment in brain functioning, emotional regulation, self-control, stress response, and memory. 

What are the seven signs of emotional abuse?

Emotional abuse can manifest in various ways depending on time, place, and circumstances.  While there isn't a fixed list of signs that universally define it, here are seven common indicators:

• Constant Criticism: An abuser may belittle their partner or make them feel inadequate about their actions, thoughts, or appearance. Emotional abusers may use their partner's vulnerabilities against them by targeting specific areas they feel most insecure about. 
• Isolation: The abuser may isolate their partner from friends, families, or even activities they once enjoyed. The purpose of isolating is to make the partner feel dependent on their abuser for support and validation.
• Gaslighting: This refers to manipulating another's perception of reality, creating doubt about the individual's own memories, thoughts, or feelings. Gaslighting techniques are often used to make a partner feel "crazy" or confused about what's real. 
• Control: An abuser often tries to control as many aspects of their partner's life as possible. This means restricting their independence and controlling their daily activities, actions, decisions, and finances. They'll also monitor the partner's movements and may use technology to track their whereabouts constantly. 
• Placing Guilt And Blame: Emotional abusers shift the responsibility for their behavior to their partner to make them feel guilty about things that aren't their fault. 
• Emotional Withdrawal: An emotional abuser might intentionally withdraw from their partner—ignoring them, withholding affection, or giving the "silent treatment" to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension. 
• Intimidation And Threats: Verbal, physical, or emotionally threatening behavior is often used by emotional abusers to instill fear, and control a partner's actions. 

What are the five signs of psychological abuse?

Psychological abuse is designed to cause emotional or mental harm to an individual with the aim of controlling them. It can take many forms but is often repetitive and can cause irreparable damage. Five signs of psychological abuse include: 

• Embarrassing a partner in public or in front of friends, family, colleagues, and peers. An abuser may call them names or constantly correct what they say or do to make the partner look or feel foolish. 
• Using things like race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, or family to cause psychological distress about the things they can't change about themselves. 
• Ignoring a partner, pretending they aren't there, or withholding affection. 
• Gaslighting by saying or doing things that make the partner feel confused. An abuser may say things or move/change things, then deny it and claim they must be going crazy or their memory is failing. 
• Threatening to harm the individual's pets, children, or other important people in a partner's life to frighten and control them. 

What are the seven main categories of abuse?

The seven most commonly recognized categories of domestic abuse include physical, psychological, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, and digital abuse/cyberbullying. 

• Important information about domestic violence: What to know and how to stay safe Medically reviewed by Laura Angers Maddox , NCC, LPC
• What Is The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence? (2023) Medically reviewed by Melissa Guarnaccia , LCSW
• Domestic Violence
• Relationships and Relations

Inquest into death of Brandon Rich finds police need more domestic and family violence training

A coroner has recommended NSW Police be better trained at de-escalating domestic and family violence situations, after an Indigenous man died while being restrained at his grandmother's house.

The Rich family has granted the ABC permission to use Brandon Rich's name and image.

Wiradjuri man Brandon Trevor James Rich, 29, died on December 29, 2021, after being restrained by police at his grandmother's home in Wellington NSW. 

Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Harriet Grahame handed down her findings on Thursday. 

More training needed

The inquest examined the circumstances leading up to Mr Rich's death, including his altercation with police and their use of capsicum spray and restraints. 

Magistrate Grahame found Mr Rich died in the context of physical exertion and stress from his prolonged struggle with police. 

A autopsy repot found Mr Rich died from a cardiac arrhythmia triggered by blocked arteries which were the result of a combination of factors including obesity, high blood pressure, a history of methamphetamine use, smoking and severe coronary artery disease.

Magistrate Grahame made one recommendation to the Commissioner of NSW Police: that any training for officers on operational duties in relation to domestic and family violence include a focus on understanding and implementing powers of direction and detention.

She found the two officers who attempted to detain Mr Rich in 2021, Senior Constables Lindsey Kohlet and Stephen Bennett, had not followed standard domestic violence operating procedures requiring them to ask for more information before attending the home. 

She said this led to a lack of essential risk assessment and preparation.

She said the officers also "did not clearly understand" their powers to detain Mr Rich. 

The inquest heard the officers did not realise they should have given Mr Rich a clear direction and then allow adequate time and opportunity to comply before detaining him.

"In my view the most critical issue arising from the evidence is the apparent lack of strategic thinking about early de-escalation techniques," Magistrate Grahame said. 

"I accept that policing is a difficult job, made more difficult in situations of stress, but clear and helpful processes designed to obtain useful information in domestic violence situations should, as far as possible, be adhered to and followed."

Magistrate Grahame acknowledged NSW Police intends to introduce an online training package relating to mental health awareness, which includes considerations of de-escalation techniques. 

Arguments escalate 

The inquest had heard police arrived at Mr Rich's grandmother's house after she requested an Apprehended Violence Order against Mr Rich who lived at the house.

The two attending officers, Senior Constables Kohlet and Bennett, attempted to take Mr Rich, who was in the front yard of the home, to Wellington Police Station.

Mr Rich refused and asked if his grandmother could take him because he didn't want to sit in the caged section of the vehicle.

Mr Rich ran into his grandmother's home, where the officers used capsicum spray and a baton to subdue Mr Rich.

While he was being handcuffed, Senior Constable Kohlet said she noticed Mr Rich's face turn red.

The handcuffs were removed and Mr Rich was given CPR.

He was taken to Wellington Hospital, but died just after 1:30pm.

Impact of force and capsicum spray

Magistrate Grahame said it was not possible to determine if the use of force, including a baton or capsicum spray, contributed to Mr Rich's death. 

She said police should have reconsidered the necessity of placing Mr Rich in a caged vehicle, especially given his mental health history and lack of criminal offence. 

The inquest heard the two officers who attended the property were not wearing body-worn cameras or carrying a taser, which is a requirement of NSW Police.

Magistrate Grahame said while it wouldn't have affected the outcome, it was "regrettable" and failed to provide important and useful evidence for the inquest. 

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‘Loved his family’: Obituary infuriated Michigan teen shot in face by stepdad

Jan. 8, 2018, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Two days after a shotgun slug pulverized her face, in a critical care unit at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Amedy Dewey was alert but couldn’t see out of either eye . She had already been through several surgeries, as doctors tried to piece her face together like a puzzle, inserting screws to hold the shattered bones in place.

Thankfully, she could think clearly. The shotgun slug missed her brain but damaged her upper palate, both eyes, jaw and half her face. A trach tube prevented her from speaking but she could hear voices.

She moved her hands, trying to communicate through sign language, a course she had taken in high school but nobody could figure out what she was doing.

Finally, somebody handed her a paper and pen.

“And I'm like, 'thank you,' ” she said. “Because it was like playing charades and I'm blind.”

She wrote on the piece of paper: “Will I ever again see again?”

“The doctor kind of essentially said, ‘No, you'll never regain it,’ ” she remembered.

She laughed.

“Watch me,” she wrote.

Amedy transferred out of the critical care unit and stood up briefly on Jan. 11. The next day, she passed a swallow test and ate ice chips.

On Jan. 13, Amedy walked down the hallway and back to her room, another sign of progress. A few close friends and family were allowed to visit her. Two days later, Amedy figured out how to speak with the trach. Completely blind, she got some audiobooks from the library because she was frustrated, trying to listen to a movie without watching it.

By Jan. 17, the attempts to save her left eye were failing and the pain was excruciating.

“It was literally just dangling there like a dried-up fisheye,” Amedy said.

After doctors presented her with different options, Amedy decided to have the eye removed. Almost instantly, the vision in her right eye improved. Doctors formed a theory that her brain was working so hard to see out of both eyes, at the same time, that after the left was removed some vision returned in her right.

“I was starting to see again, things started getting fuzzy, and then I remember the first color I saw was red,” she said.

Recalling her story

Detective Hesche and his partner, Detective Jon Ruswinckel, interviewed Amedy at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital on Jan. 18. She was in bed, conscious and alert, with tubes sticking out of her head to relieve swelling. Her face was yellow, blue and puffed up. Gauze covered one eye, the other was swelled shut.

Hesche didn’t plan to stay long. The evidence at the scene was overwhelming to him that David Somers was the main suspect in the two shooting deaths and Amedy's injuries, and he was dead. There would be no trial. Hesche just needed to verify basic facts.

“No,” Amedy said. “We're going to talk about this, and you can ask anything you want.”

“She painted the whole picture,” Hesche said. “And not only just what happened that night, but we got into all the reasons this happened to begin with.”

Amedy was in pain and had trouble speaking clearly but she described everything that had happened at the Orlando airport, how she and her mother had discovered David’s infidelity on a social media app and the fight in the car.

Why were they going that direction?

They were cutting across the state because David was supposed to drop Amedy off in Midland to stay with Becki Hoon — her legal guardian.

The officers found Amedy remarkable, in part, because she didn’t minimize her involvement. She admitted confronting David in the vehicle, screaming at him, stoking his anger.

Her version of the story aligned perfectly with the autopsy report, the evidence at the scene, the timeline the police had put together and what 911 callers had reported, according to Hesche. She also cleared up the mystery of the bloody smears on the outside of the vehicle after telling Hesche she had gotten out of the vehicle two times, leaving behind bloody tracks.

As Amedy told the story of how she got out of the vehicle and felt her way around it, trying to get help, fighting to live, Hesche looked at this 18-year-old high school senior and was amazed.

“She wasn't giving her life up for him,” he said. “She wasn't going to do it. There was no way she was dying alongside that (expletive) freeway.”

Amedy also cleared up something else: Why didn’t David go on the cruise with them?

Amedy, her mother and stepfather planned to drive from Michigan to Florida to go on a cruise, Amedy told police. She was sleeping during the drive and knew that they had stopped in Kentucky. David had had some type of “massive meltdown,” Hesche wrote in a report.

David decided to drive back to Michigan and Amedy was relieved.

“I was ecstatic because I don't like him,” she said. “I haven't liked him, ever.”

Her mother rented a car and drove the rest of the way. As they finished the drive to Florida, her mother said something that would haunt Amedy for years.

“She said, ‘Amedy, if you weren't here with me, I would have gone back Up North with him,’ ” Amedy said.

That left Amedy with a question she couldn't shake: If that would have happened, would her mother still be alive?

The Carnival Cruise left Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 30, 2017. Lisa and Amedy took day trips to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Amedy only wanted one thing for her birthday: to touch the ocean for the first time in her life.

“So, we went to the beach,” she said. “I remember walking into the water and it was like bath water. It was so clear I could see the bottom. My mom walked in with me, and we held hands, just kind of stood there and enjoyed the view. I remember looking at the water and looking at the sky and the colors were so beautiful. It was so tranquil.”

Midway through the trip, Lisa talked with David on the phone, and he informed her that he was having surgery to get a brain tumor removed through his nose. Amedy did not believe that her mother knew about it before that point because she had never brought it up.

“She was extremely worried for him,” Amedy said.

Two days later, David sent Lisa a photo. “I remember him sending a photo to my mother and his entire nose was bandaged up and everything,” Amedy said.

As Amedy finished the story, describing the shooting, she even cracked a joke to the officers.

“Well, he (expletive) up this birthday,” she said to the officers. “But next year is gonna be a blowout. You guys are invited if you want to go.”

Hesche was stunned.

“You gotta understand, from my point of view, I was picking up pieces of her face and her teeth off the freeway in the middle of the night, just 10 days prior, just literally pieces,” he said. “That girl is the toughest human being I've ever met in my entire life.”

The interview lasted about an hour.

"I remember walking out of there with my partner at the time, and we just looked at each other,” Hesche said. “Have you ever seen anything like that?”

At the most basic level, Hesche was stunned that Amedy was alive after getting shot in the face. A 12-gauge shotgun slug has enough power and mass to blow hinges off a door.

“That'll drop an angry bull,” Hesche said. “It's just an immense amount of energy and for her to survive that? It just doesn't happen.”

He felt like he was talking to a Marvel character, some kind of superhero with magical powers.

"She’s a real-life Deadpool,” he said, of a character in the movies who never dies, even after getting shot.

 It was the most remarkable interview of his career.

“Without a doubt in my mind,” Hesche said, “I've never met someone with a stronger will to survive.”

Feeling attacked by media

Three weeks after the shooting, Amedy started to review news reports about the shooting.

Some recordings of 911 calls were posted online and Amedy listened to them several times, thankful for everyone who called. “Saved my life,” she thought and planned on finding the callers on Facebook to thank them personally.

She got her boyfriend to read her the news reports about the shooting, and several stories were so twisted and wrong, in her opinion, that it infuriated her.

The first stories didn’t mention David’s affair with the teenager.

She read David’s online obituary and it enraged her: There was no mention of how he killed her mother or how he shot her in the face. It just glossed over what happened, almost like it didn't happen.

“In Kaleva, he helped organize the softball leagues and was also in charge of the Kaleva softball fields,” the online obituary read. “David enjoyed baseball, softball, hunting, snowmobiling, camping, and off-roading. Earlier on in his life, he enjoyed little league, the Fifth Reformed Cadet Program, horseback riding, rodeo, and bull riding. Most of all, David loved his family.”

Loved his family? Amedy couldn’t take it.

“David was preceded in death by his wife, Lisa,” the obituary read.

Yeah, because he killed her, Amedy thought.

The obituary read like a typical, boilerplate version with no sinister, harmful intention. But in Amedy’s perception, sitting in a hospital room, after a surgeon removed her eye, recovering from a shotgun blast to the face while grieving for her mother, she felt like she was being attacked again. Like he was getting away with it in a twisted way, as if everyone was glossing over it, and if you didn't mention it, it didn't happen, and couldn't be true.

“I am so sorry for your loss,” someone posted to David’s family on the obituary page. “I went to school with Dave and graduated with him. I am in shock as I know you all are.”

Hesche has seen this play out different ways several times. It’s complicated when friends and family try to come to grips with the idea that someone they loved, someone they cherished, committed an evil act. To some, it might be so out of character. To others, like Amedy, there were warning signs.

Amedy felt like she was stuck in the middle of that struggle. She wasn’t looking for pity — she hates pity. But she felt what he did — how he killed her mother — was being glossed over and forgotten.

She saw posts about David describing Lisa as his soulmate — Lisa and David had met playing adult softball in west Michigan; and they married and moved to Kaleva, a small town in northern Michigan between Ludington and Traverse City.

But a soulmate?

This guy who had killed her?

Some stories mentioned how David was “kind” and this was “completely out of character.”

This man who had just blown off half her face?

Other news reports mentioned that David had a brain tumor, and it enraged her.

Amedy went on social media and felt that her mother was under attack.

Some questioned the timeline: Why did Lisa go on a vacation when her husband was having surgery on a brain tumor?

“I heard just a whole bunch of hate,” Amedy said. “They ridiculed my mother. And I just wanted to scream: She didn't know! He told us that Wednesday. And he faked it anyway.”

To Amedy, they were bashing Lisa, blaming her for being uncaring, turning her into the villain.

Amedy came to realize the tumor story was a fabrication. She said she never found any shred of evidence that he had surgery — no paperwork, no test results, no medical records, not even the name of a doctor.

“There was absolutely no tumor,” Amedy said. “He did not have one at all. He faked all of it. All of it.”

That assertion was backed up by police, Hesche said recently.

Amedy believes David’s motive for faking the tumor and not going on the cruise was obvious: “He wanted to play house with his mistress,” she said.

What that gunshot stole from Amedy

There are 43 muscles in the human face . Some are involved in basic functions like chewing or blinking. But other muscles form the center of communication — the ability to show happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.

For most, the face is a window into how someone feels. How someone communicates in the most subtle ways.

But that shotgun blast stole the subtle nuance of communication from Amedy.

“High velocity weapons do tremendous devastation to the delicate features of the face, which are skin, muscle, nerves and bone,” said Dr. Christian Vercler, a plastic surgeon at the University of Michigan . “We can mimic the appearance of the face but it's such a unique thing. It's the center of human communication. And it's permanently altered after a gunshot in a devastating way that can never fully be restored.”

For two months, Amedy stayed at the hospital in Grand Rapids and went through at least 15 facial surgeries.

Surgeons inserted nasal trumpets into her nostrils to open her airway to help her breathe.

“Misery,” Amedy said. “They were in there so that the muscle wouldn't collapse. They were like a soft plastic but they would get hard if there was any moisture.”

Every week, she went through a surgery, either a wound cleaning or a major reconstruction.

After two months in Grand Rapids, she spent a week in Ann Arbor for yet another major surgery. The side of her face was like a sink hole because she was missing so much bone and tissue, and doctors at U-M wanted to refill it.

Plastic surgeons decided to take a thick muscle from her back and move it to her face. But it wasn't a perfect fix. The muscle looked huge on her face. “They told me that they can always extract some out, they can never put more in,” she said.

Over time, that muscle sagged and eventually, Vercler performed another operation to lift it.

That became a recurring theme for Amedy since the shooting: One operation blended into the next. There was never an ending, just another tweak in the future.

In another surgery, doctors took 2 inches of her rib and put it under her eye, like laying a foundation on which to place a house, to prepare the socket for a prosthetic eye. But doctors feared she had too much scar tissue.

“The scarring would just push it right back out,” Amedy said.

The shotgun blast destroyed so many teeth that she got dentures.

“My upper jaw was no longer there, so my teeth were actually eating themselves,” she said. “It felt like coral.”

Her face was covered with heavy scarring, which created another series of challenges. Scars can change over time, twisting or warping, changing the appearance of the face. So Vercler used lasers to soften the appearance of the heavy scarring.   

Over the years, doctors performed an endless cycle of tweaking and cleaning and moving and lifting, and then tweaking some more.

“There's always problems that kind of creep up later, when you have that kind of devastating injury,” Vercler said.

Some of the scars were visible.

And some were not.

But they came out in her dreams.

This is the third chapter of a five-part series in which Detroit Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel shares the story of a Michigan survivor of gun violence.  C ontact Jeff Seidel:  [email protected]  or follow him  @seideljeff .

Chapter 4 of Amedy's Story: Visits from a killer

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
• Saginaw/Bay City
• All Michigan

Dear Annie: I was blindsided by divorce after 27 years, and hurts didn’t stop there

• Published: Mar. 23, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

Annie Lane writes the Dear Annie advice column. Creators.com

Dear Annie: My name is “Stephanie,” and my husband’s name is “Travis.” Travis and I have been married for 27 years. About six months ago, I was blindsided with divorce papers. He and his mom made the decision. Yes, you read that right. Anyhow, my husband and I still live together, and the divorce has not moved forward for various reasons. His entire family has completely disowned me, with the exception of my father-in-law, who didn’t get involved.

Travis’ father, my father-in-law, suddenly passed away recently. It was heartbreaking. I sent food, etc. because that is who I am. When the obituary came out online and in the paper, my name wasn’t in it. My husband’s name and our children’s names were, of course, but my name wasn’t. I am so hurt by this. My father-in-law and I always had a good relationship, and I feel like Travis and his mother did it out of spite. I know they did. In my opinion, that was disrespectful to both his father and to me.

How could people be so cruel? How do I move past this? What are your thoughts? Thank you. -- “Stephanie” Left Out in PA

Dear Stephanie: I’m sorry for the loss of your father-in-law, especially during an already difficult time for you and your marriage. After almost three decades of calling Travis’ family your own, you have every right to feel hurt, excluded and disrespected by their behavior. Ultimately, this action speaks much louder of their character than of yours.

Initiate a conversation with Travis to express how this exclusion made you feel and establish a way to interact and cohabit as you move toward finalizing the divorce. It is disappointing that the people you’ve been closest to have started to act in unrecognizable ways, but remember, you can only control your reactions and behavior. Lean on your true friends and loved ones while you grieve both your father-in-law and your marriage.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected] .

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Family of man killed in Seattle violence-prevention meeting sues nonprofit

The family of a 19-year-old man fatally shot during a violence-reduction mentorship program meeting has filed a lawsuit alleging the nonprofit Community Passageways was negligent in his death and failed to provide adequate security.

Omari Wallace had been placed in Community Passageways as a court-ordered alternative to incarceration on pending felony robbery charges. He was attending a March 2021 orientation held at the Emerald City Bible Fellowship when a rival who wasn’t part of the program entered the gathering and shot him several times.

That man, 22-year-old Isaiah Thomas Hinds, was later shot and killed by King County sheriff’s deputies while they were trying to arrest him on a homicide warrant.

According to court documents and news reports, there were nearly 40 people in attendance when Hinds entered the Rainier Valley church and shot Wallace. The lawsuit alleges Community Passageways “failed to take reasonable measures to ensure that the participants … were safe from harm.” It also names the church and Urban Impact, another Washington nonprofit, as defendants.

The action claims that after the shooting, Community Passageways staff and members refused to cooperate with investigators, forcing then-King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg to empanel a rare special inquiry to obtain documents, interviews and other information police say they needed for the investigation.

“Both law enforcement and the community at large were bewildered how staff from the Community Passageways, a violence-prevention program which receives millions of dollars in public funding, could watch a murder committed before their eyes and not assist law enforcement,” the lawsuit states.

The nonprofit, whose government filings show gross receipts of nearly $14 million a year, states its purpose as creating “alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency.”

The organization’s attorneys argued that cooperating with law enforcement could undermine credibility with its clients, writing to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office that “developing a reputation as an investigatory pipeline for law enforcement — despite being inaccurate — would put an end to Community Passageways’ life-changing and wide-ranging work in the community.”

The organization didn’t respond to a message seeking comment on the lawsuit, which names as plaintiffs an attorney representing Wallace’s estate, his parents and son, as well as the child’s guardian, Kailani Madrigal.

The lawsuit alleges Community Passageways and the other defendants had entered into an agreement to provide security at the group’s orientations and other meetings. It says Hinds wasn’t enrolled but was able to enter the building with a handgun and make his way to a second-floor room where the orientation was taking place.

The lawsuit alleges the group is liable for Wallace’s wrongful death and makes common-law claims of negligence, infliction of emotional distress, outrage, conducting an abnormally dangerous activity and loss of consortium.

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Suspect arrested in deadly downtown Portland assault had history of violence

T he 29-year-old suspect arrested for allegedly assaulting and killing a man near downtown Portland’s waterfront Friday had a history of violence and mental health concerns, court records show.

Abel Nistor was convicted of assaulting and strangling his father last year after claiming he was a demon, according to court records. Eight years prior to that, he killed the family dog.

Nistor has been in and out of jail, has taken anger management courses and spent time in the state’s psychiatric hospital, court records show.

ANIMAL ABUSE

In 2015, Nistor was sentenced to six months in jail after he killed his brother’s Rottweiler with a hammer and knife. He told prosecutors that he killed the animal, Leo, because the dog’s barking was making it difficult to sleep.

Nistor pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated animal abuse and animal abandonment. He was required to undergo anger-management classes and therapy aimed at teaching him how to show empathy for animals and was banned from owning pets for 15 years.

Nistor cut the dog’s throat and hit him in the head with a claw hammer over a dozen times, court records show. Nistor allegedly told police that he “killed the dog in the cruelest way possible” and that he “kind of liked it,” according to a probable cause affidavit.

At the time, his brother, Lewis Nistor, told the judge he believed his younger brother deserved a second chance. He told the presiding judge that he believed anger management courses would be enough, and that the prison sentence wasn’t necessary.

Nistor’s psychological evaluation results were “positive,” according to his defense attorney at the time. Prosecutors requested that further tests be done to ensure he received appropriate mental health treatment if needed.

Prosecutors said that even after the arrest Nistor told them he felt he had no choice but to kill the dog.

Nistor was also sentenced to three years probation and was banned from owning weapons. He was ordered to undergo mental health and drug-and-alcohol evaluations, court records show.

FAMILY ASSAULT

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a harassment call in Southeast Portland February 11, 2023. They arrived to find Ilie Nistor injured and with red marks around his neck, according to court documents.

He told deputies that his son attacked him because he thought he was a demon.

That day, Abel Nistor broke down the door of the house and started praying for his father, saying that he thought there was a demon inside the home, the affidavit said. Abel Nistor was living at the far end of the property in a mobile home and was not allowed into the main house since killing the family dog in 2015, court records show.

He declared his father a demon that must be killed, according to the affidavit, and struck him in the face. Nistor then began strangling him as he continued to yell that he was a demon, court documents said. Lewis Nistor heard the commotion and rushed to his father’s aid. He sprayed Abel Nistor with bear mace and he fled the home, according to court records. His family left the house for their safety and called 911, the document said.

Deputies arrived to find Nistor back inside the house and arrested him.

During the trial, Nistor was determined to be mentally unfit to proceed. After three months, including time at the Oregon State Hospital, Nistor was cleared to continue.

Nistor pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and attempting to commit a misdemeanor in October. A judge sentenced him to 330 days in prison and two years probation, according to court records.

He was released in November after serving 232 days of his sentence, records show. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to an email Saturday asking why Nistor was released early.

EASTBANK ESPLANADE

Police officers converged on Portland’s Eastbank Esplanade near Southeast Madison Street after receiving reports of an assault early Friday morning. Officers found a man dead when they arrived and detained Abel Nistor as a suspect at the scene.

Nistor was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries, police said. Once released, he was booked into Multnomah County jail on allegations of second-degree murder and fourth-degree assault, records show.

Police said bystanders, including a waste transportation worker, security guard and Portland firefighters, stepped in to stop the assault.

It’s unclear what precipitated the violent attack. Investigators ask anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Meghan Burkeen at [email protected] or 503-823-2092 or Detective Brian Sims at [email protected] or 503-823-2079.

The killing was one of many along the downtown Portland waterfront in recent years. One week earlier, a man was stabbed to death on the Steel Bridge. Two other people were killed on or near the waterfront in January — a stabbing near Northwest Naito Parkway and Everett Street, and a shooting near Southeast Water Avenue and Salmon Street.

Nistor remained in jail as of Saturday afternoon, booking records show.

— Austin De Dios covers public safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Reach him at 503-319-9744, [email protected] or @AustinDeDios .

– Aimee Green covers breaking news and the justice system. Reach her at 503-294-5119, [email protected] or @o_aimee .

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Haiti's leader to resign as gangs overrun the country

The embattled prime minister of Haiti , the Caribbean country whose capital has been overwhelmed by violent gangs, said Tuesday that he would resign.

In a short speech posted to Facebook, Ariel Henry said his government would dissolve once a transitional council had been set up, following a week of "systematic looting and destruction of public buildings and private buildings."

"It hurts us. And it has revolted us," Henry said.

The prime minister appealed for calm: "Haiti needs peace. Haiti needs stability. Haiti needs sustainable development. Haiti needs to rebuild democratic institutions." 

The timing of the interim government remains unclear.

The resignation announcement follows weeks of spiraling violence, including prison breaks and an attack on the country's main airport. It came the same day as leaders of Caribbean nations held an emergency meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, to discuss the worsening crisis. Notably, Henry did not attend.

A senior administration official said Monday night that the talks, involving Secretary of State Antony Blinken with 40 representatives from Haiti as well as regional heads of state, had lasted seven hours.

It was agreed that the transitional council will include seven members, with one representing the private sector, the official said.

More Haiti coverage

• Haitian hospital reopens after deadly confrontation with gang
• Director of Haiti orphanage says he's never been more worried amid escalating violence
• U.S. forces fly in to beef up security at embassy in Haiti and evacuate nonessential personnel
• Haitians around the world call for action to stop gang violence

Earlier, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, president of Guyana and chairman of the group known as Caricom, confirmed Henry's resignation at a Monday night news conference.

“We acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and the naming of an interim prime minister," he said.

Ali said the move to a transitional government "paves the way for a peaceful transition of power.” He said the commitment includes “the road to free and fair elections,” as well as continuity of governance and near-term security.

Henry has been on U.S. soil since last week, forced to land in Puerto Rico after he was unable to land in Haiti due to threats at the airport. Protesters had been seen outside the hotel he’s believed to be staying in as calls for his resignation grew louder.

Last weekend, Haiti was sent into a state of emergency after gangs banded together and attacked government institutions, the airport and prisons, setting free thousands of prisoners.

The notorious “G9 and Family" gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier — known as “Barbecue”— threatened more violence if Henry, prime minister since 2021, did not step down.

Blinken, who flew to Jamaica for Monday's meeting, said earlier Monday that the U.S. and Caricom, a regional trade bloc, "support a clear political transition plan, led by trusted representatives of Haitian society.”

"Haitians cannot wait any longer for a path to security, stability, and democracy," Blinken said on social media Monday.

Philippe Branchat, the United Nations International Organization for Migration head in Haiti, has said that the capital of Port-au-Prince is "under siege" and surrounded by armed groups.

Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, has long been in crisis.

Gangs have  taken over about 80%  of the geography of Port-au-Prince, according to the nonprofit Assessment Capacities Project, which provides data to humanitarian groups.

Not helping matters was the 2021 assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse, k i lled i n an attack on his residence in a Port-au-Prince suburb in July of that year. Moïse had been fighting to try and stay in power when he was killed, and critics had accused him of corruption and overstaying his term under the constitution.

In February, a judge issued a final report that indicts his widow , Martine Moïse, ex-prime minister Claude Joseph and the former chief of Haiti’s National Police, Léon Charles, among others.

Charles was charged with murder, attempted murder, possession and illegal carrying of weapons, conspiracy against the internal security of the state and criminal association.

Martine Moïse and Joseph are accused of complicity and criminal association.

The U.S. State Department warns Americans to stay away from Haiti and has issued a "do not travel" advisory for the country, citing kidnapping, crime and civil unrest.

Six Catholic nuns and others were kidnapped in Haiti in January. In August, American nurse  Alix Dorsainvil and her child  were kidnapped and held captive for nearly two weeks before they were released.

In 2021, five priests and two nuns were kidnapped from a suburb of Port-au-Prince, and they were held for nearly three weeks before their release was announced.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Marissa Parra is a national correspondent for NBC News based in Miami, Florida.