Policies and Structural Procedures to Governing Domestic Violence

Introduction

Domestic violence for generations has been treated as a family problem rather than a crime. Its implications are a menace to the community and society in general. Domestic violence is defined as abuse, exercised between married, divorced, or separated people who have formerly lived together, gave birth to a child together, or in a relationships leading and intended for marriage. The abuse is demonstrated through physical, emotional, and psychological behavior. Efforts and pressure from the public and advocates have raised alarms on the increase of violence in families. Hence, procedural polices can be stipulated and structured to ensure officers address domestic violence as a crime, rather than a family problem in order to protect the rights and lives of victims. In addition, society and victims expect law enforcement to treat domestic violence as a crime. Subsequently, arrests and punishment should follow offenders of domestic violence.

Use of administrative departments to implement policies and procedures of domestic violence, conducting comprehensive and detailed in-service training to effectively provide the support is needed in the community.

Implementation of a Pro Arrest Policy

Establishment of a pro arrest policy will be essential for the administrative support departments, such as police and law enforcement departments. Allocation of adequate resource to allow implementation will ensure the compliance with the policy by both the law enforcers and potential offenders. The pro arrest policies will be written down, mandate and charge according to responsible authorities who will enforce the written code. A centralized system of establishing contact between trained officers, prosecutors and victims will be created. Appointment of coordinators to review domestic violence reports, work prosecutors and trained officers in the detection of domestic violence will also be done. Resources to support the fight against domestic violence will include funding from the federal government and non-governmental agencies and organizations in the form of grants (Hart & Barbara, 1990).

Conducting of In – Service Training Sessions for Policy Implementers

The training manual will address all aspects of domestic violence, ranging from the attitude of the officers enforcing the policies, stipulated laws, procedural policies in various departments linked to domestic violence and the dynamics associated with it.

Officer Training

It is essential to address the attitude of the officers in order to ensure that they do not view domestic violence as a family affair or problem like in the case of Thurman v. City of Torrington, when the officers did not consider the way the husband treated the wife as relevant. Eventually, the Man stabbed his wife and left her crippled for life. The program will ensure the officers view domestic violence as a crime, hence treat it respectively. Moreover, officers will be equipped in the way they clear up any domestic calls with no paper work and crisis intervention skills.

Consequently, with a help of explanation and training of the laws governors, domestic violence will be dealt with. This is to ensure the appropriate response of the officers whenever a domestic violence case occurs. In addition, some departments, such as the detective department, will be trained for the specific course oriented on the detection of domestic emotional and psychological abuse, while other trainings can focus on detection of the physical abuse and appropriate approaches of response.

The police will outline the appropriate measures to be undertaken when a victim displays any traumatic signs of domestic violence abuse. Moreover, the ways how to effectively record reports regarding incidents, restraining orders and enactment of special documents or forms will be introduced. Other technical issues include the training in how to detect and identify the primary aggressor in a relationship, probable causes of conflict, witnesses and suspects to forward abuse cases and collect the evidence of the crime scene (Marshall, 1982).

Community Enlightenment, Support and Empowerment

The system policy factors are the possibility of preventing domestic crime rather than punishing the offenders. Hence, community support and availability of the information on how to effectively prevent domestic violence and abuse will be attained through the provision of public forums that will assist in detection, investigation and monitoring of domestic violence. The authorities and professionals, such as judges, prosecutors, probation officers, magistrates and advocates will be involved. The community will be notified on their rights and available resources for crime victims in the public information forums.

In addition, victims of violence will be further assisted apart from dealing with the offence by providing shelters, for instance ‘night for life’, the information to refer to or gadgets to assist them in the cases of domestic violence occurrence, such as cellular phones, alarm amulets etc. Also, assistance in instituting safety measures against violence will be accorded (Finesmith, 1983).

Conclusion

Domestic violence is defined as an abuse, exercised between married, divorced, or separated people who have formerly lived together, gave birth to a child while living together, or in a relationship leading and intended for marriage. The abuse is demonstrated through physical, emotional, and psychological behavior. Efforts and pressure from the public and advocates have raised alarms on the increase of violence that happens in families. Hence, procedural polices must be stipulated and structured to ensure domestic violence is treated as a crime, rather than a family problem, so that the rights and lives of victims are protected. Implementation of Pro Arrest Policies and conducting of in service trainings for officers on how to efficiently administrate the domestic violence laws, relevant policies, and public or community support will help curb the domestic violence menace.

Finally, domestic violence is a crime and should not be practiced at all. Offenders or those who are involved in it should be prosecuted accordingly.