Domestic violence is a topic that until recently, was rarely talked about openly. Many people still do not realize that this is not a domestic or family problem, but of society as a whole.
The numbers of victims of domestic violence, regardless of gender, are devastating for all of humanity. An even bigger defeat is that there are societies and communities that do not see a problem in one member of one family being violent towards another.
Of course, violence is not just bruised skin on the body. Many times, psychological violence is something we cannot see with our eyes. Violent placement in a financially dependent position is violence.
Workplace mobbing is also a form of violent behavior. There are so many forms and types, but people are only focused on physical violence because it gives a visible picture of the injuries inflicted.
A little optimism for victims of violence
In many countries around the world, laws are being passed that clearly define the forms of violence and fight for its prevention. It gives hope and optimism that the problem will start to be solved systematically if the legal changes are implemented fairly.
Unfortunately, there are examples in which disputes last so long that victims are again exposed to violent behavior, without any protection. This problem is very common all over the world and even the strongest and most stable legal systems fail because of it.
However, there are civil society organizations that effectively detect weaknesses and cooperate with the legislature, so that full protection can be ensured, as well as a fair trial for all those involved in the process.
The legal system should be familiar to both enforcers and ordinary citizens. Education campaigns must exist so that everyone knows which actions are criminal and for which they can be prosecuted as a crime. If you look at the calvinbarry.ca, you will find practical examples of law enforcement in Canada.
What is important to emphasize is that the laws and rules are not the same everywhere, i.e. they are defined by the state and the responsible legislative structures. This is why cases of domestic violence are treated with great care and a lot of resources are devoted to protecting the victim, but at the same time, in other countries, such behavior is not even defined as a crime.
How is America handling these cases?
America offers two options, to prosecute the perpetrator or to file a civil lawsuit against him/her. In criminal cases, the prosecutor is the one who decides whether to continue to prosecute the perpetrator. In civil cases, there are certain restrictions as a consequence of the local laws of the state where the proceedings were instituted.
In a criminal case, the victim reports to the police that violence is taking place in the home, and then the legal system takes over the case. An investigation is underway, which increases the victim’s chances of winning the dispute. If it is a case of rape or murder as a result of domestic violence, the process is quick and resolves in a short time.
However, the general recommendation is to go with a civil lawsuit if the victim is not killed or raped. This means that if you report psychological violence, economic restraint, hostage-taking, curtailment of rights, insults, shouting, and a subjective sense of threat, it is better to follow the legal framework of your state and act accordingly with your lawyer.
In the case of a civil lawsuit, the process may take as long as the parties concerned provide new evidence in favor of the case. Sometimes it can be resolved in a few weeks, but sometimes it takes months or years before the verdict.
Challenges of domestic violence cases
This topic is very extensive, but also very specific. Sometimes, it is really difficult to talk about a fair approach in the implementation of legal protection, because abuses, lies, and manipulations also happen easily.
Another difficult aspect is that the victim must be protected. When they file a lawsuit against the perpetrator, it can easily get angry and have even more dire consequences.
Certain legal systems have advanced solutions, such as shelters and similar safe havens where the victim can remain protected during the process. In principle, a case is considered resolved when a person who has been a victim of domestic violence can safely return home and be assured that the offense will not be repeated.
This means removing the violent person from the home, instead of hiding the victim in shelters and similar centers.
However, many lawyers and attorneys face a huge problem when the victim decides to drop the charges. Unfortunately, we also witness that such things happen, regardless of the attempts for education and protection. Victims are often unable to reason and make the right decisions, and the violent person knows exactly what their impact is on such shaky self-esteem.
This is why many cases fall into the water and are forgotten until a life-threatening form of violence or even murder occurs.
The final words
If you notice that a member of your family treats you violently, does not allow you to be independent, hurts you, psychologically abuses you, makes you financially dependent and you feel insecure, it is probably time to report it to one of the SOS lines or seek help from CSOs, who would then assist you in initiating legal proceedings.
This is a very specific topic and it is always difficult to accept that someone with whom we share the home can be violent towards us. It can be a partner, but it can also be a family member – a parent, a sibling, and even distant relatives who sometimes come to you.
No one deserved to suffer violence. It is better to prevent and act while there is more time. There is a worrying number of cases of violence that have ended in murder – either the victim is killed or the victim kills the abuser. And when that happens, it’s too late for everyone.
