Why isn't there harsher punishments for domestic abuse crimes?

Answer 1

did u know that there are lots of men that get abused by women? it's true. women abuse men. maybe once everyone accepts that then maybe we can help everyone. IS IT NOT TIME TO VALUE
ALL OUR PEOPLE?

Answer 2

Im not surprised that our media & press are NOT showing current stats on "ABUSE". People automatically assume it is women whom are victims, and men perpetrate. The truth is.... It is SAME. Men are infact deeply criticized - "less a man if he is beat up by his wife", "a wuss, whimp, dumb... if so his wife beats him", "if a guy cant 'control' his wife, then he is a failure of a husband". Although it is stated in the VAWA II that if the wife even FEELS she is being "controlled", that its "domestic violence". Or if the husband is agreed to, and is simply in charge of doing the finances in the household between the married couple... Automatically considered "abuse towards the woman". How rediculous that is, it is true. Even with proof of violence against a man, and children..... It is going to be his arrest, regardless.

I also find it rediculous that DV & RAPE stats from only a month's period of time in 1984....... Are STILL being used today as "the current stats of abuse". Such as "95% of women are abused" or how about "75% of women trying to flea from an abusive situation, are severally injured or murdered". There are yet many more ill facts of abuse I could get into. But most importantly, when society, judiciary, and all proper authorities realize that ALL people need help... Maybe then the problem will be resolved.

Another very critical factor... Child abuse. No outcry about this whatsoever. Yet, our children are 2/3rds abused by the biological mother. This also inlcudes the highest murder rate for children; is by the mother. This is consistant throughout the past 3 to 4 decades.

http://faq.acf.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/acfrightnow.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=70

Answer 3

Although it seems that domestic abuse is not punished, often there is no defense when a man is simply accused of abuse. This not only punishes the men, but often women suffer greatly as a result. Assault as always been illegal and in reality, we did not need more laws, which removed the due process of law for those accused of domestic violence. Our society has accepted many myths as fact. Myths such as more women are injured and go to the hospital for domestic violence then rapes muggings and auto accidents combined. In reality, just about as many go for dog bites and willful abuse is 7th on the list.

We also hear that 95% of the victims are women and only men abuse them. Many of the abused women are in lesbian relationship that has a higher rate then heterosexual ones. Also according to the Violence Against Women survey, 38% of the abused are....men. This is actually a low number because many areas have must arrest laws in which a man has to be arrested anytime 911 is called. As a result, many if not most men will not report being abused.

As the founder and director of Shattered Men, I have reason to believe the abuse rate is equal. I have seldom seen any conflict between two adults in which both have not added to the conflict.

There is a lot more that I could say about this but until we value ALL our people, we will not begin to resolve this problem. Until we hold each person accountable and responsible for their actions, we will enable some to be abusive and they will never see what they are doing is abuse. IF it is abuse if a man does it to a woman, is it not abuse if she does it to him too?

NO verbal statement or argument should ever be answered with physical means and that includes slapping.


RADAR Special Reports:

VAWA: Threat to Families, Children, Men, and Women
http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Threat-to-Families.pdf

VAWA Programs Discriminate Against Male Victims
http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Discriminates-Against-Males.pdf

Without Restraint: The Use and Abuse of Domestic Restraining Orders
http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Restraining-Orders.pdf

Justice Denied: Arrest Policies for Domestic Violence
http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/Justice-Denied-DV-Arrest-Policies.pdf

Bias in the Judiciary: The Case of Domestic Violence
http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/Bias-In-The-Judiciary.pdf

Answer 4

Good question. Probably the same reason why more domestic abuse is not reported. Also the same reason why men were able to get viagra via health insurance before women were able to get birth control. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

There is a severe lack of knowledge and education about domestic abuse by both civilians and law enforcement officials. What is it & what it encompasses, how to process it and charge what offense, and finally how to prosecute. In general it is under reported & when it is reported chances are great that the victim drops the charges.

With a lack of follow through from the victim because of fear or just plain "ike & tina syndrome" & other reasons, there is not enough support to push for harsher punishments until there is more support from the general community calling for these changes. In short the politicians don't care about tiny subsections of the community until attention is brought upon those subsections.

Perhaps more people asking this question, more people supporting their community outreach groups that support victims, and more people calling & writing their politicians asking for tougher punishments there will be reform.

Answer 5

not only is fear one of the factors as well too, but when this stuff happens, its not easy to report it, because the abused often times feel bad enough and by reporting it, and stuff, it actually can make them feel even more worthless. it takes time for the abused to feel like a "normal" person again. in my state, current laws are if one is arrested for it, and even if the victim drops the charges, the state picks the charges up, no matter what.
also on the flip side of the coin, there are those that want the other person, spouse or whatever, out of their life bad enough that they will cry abuse, and the accused didn't do squat, but then ends still having all of the crap on their record, which thus in returns, will always haunt them, and make them look bad.
yet then there are others that cry abuse, cry abuse and cry abuse, and keep going back for more and more and more. those are the one's wanting attention for some reason.
i strongly feel, if the situtation is bad enough the abused will get out of the relationship, if its not too late.

Answer 6

Plainly -- Domestic Violence/Abuse is not considered to be something that is taken seriously either by Law Enforcement, the Judges, the Legal System or the Lawmakers at this time.

To them, what does it matter that another mother is beaten by her teenagers, another wife is abused by her spouse, or another woman is stalked by an ex? Well, because it does not happen PERSONALLY to them -- there is no ability to care.

When you stand in front of the judge and BEG for a Personal Protection Order -- based on verifiable (long term) instances of Domestic Violence (and property Damage/Destruction and Identity Theft), and a current threat to your life, AND the fact that your ex just BURGLARIZED your property (and left the bins he stole from your garage, took a permanent marker, wrote his name on the bins, lined them up in your dining room to kitchen, and made it plain and simple that he was COMING BACK to continuing ROBBING your residence (and thank god, I had to pay bills otherwise I'd be dead now) ...

And the judge says:

"... I don't see the threat ..."

YOU know immediately how little value you have not only for your life, but how little the Judiciary cares for the welfare and physical Safety of a Domestic Violence SURVIVOR/Victim.

Answer 7

The sad reality is that domestic abuse is considered "different" from other forms of abuse because of the "relationship" between those involved. Often times the victim refuses to pursue harsh punishment as well for various reasons (economic, child care, etc.). This is also due to a chemical reaction that takes place in the brain which acts as a self-defense mechanism. When someone is consistently physically abused, they actually undergo a calming sensation (similar to being on morphine). The big problem is this is subconsciously addictive. I believe this makes the crime especially heinous, but for now it's in the hands of the law makers and the judicial system.

Answer 8

Because men are pigs. Most of the time, men are considered within their rights to punish their wives if they don't behave according to their rules. Judges merely send couples with domestic violence issues to counseling, rather than give harsh sentences to the men. I say men, because in 99% of the cases, women are abused by the husbands, although there are a few instances of men being abused by their wives.
A lot of abuse is never reported by the victim, due to social pressure, fear, or a strange psychological reaction to abuse. Some women feel they deserve this treatment!

Answer 9

I ask the same question. I am a domestic abuse survivor. My ex had blackened both my eyes, ripped out hair on bothsides of my head, left finger-bruises on my arms, choke marks on my neck and threatened to kill me. He took off and was on the run for 8 months until they caught him. He's being charged with disorderly conduct...GET THAT?

Answer 10

The prisons are filled to capacity from jailing people who sold marijuana.