Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a topic that many of us will not feel affected by, but as a matter of fact this kind of violence is skyrocketing in our society. In the U.S., as many as 1.5 million women and 850,000 men were physically assaulted by their intimate partner last year, and numerous children abused by their parents. These sad criminal acts will continue to grow in our society, unless our community takes action to stop these crimes.

First of all the most important tool we have available against this type of crime are the authorities, which include the police department, hospital, and social workers. If they manage to work together as a team to make the whole process of protecting a victim more efficiently, it will incourage victims to actually phone for help. It is believed that over half of the abuses remain unreported due to the fear of the victims from their intimate partner who has committed the crime. If such crime is reported in a western country, the offender would be arrested by the police department until a clear picture is made of the happenings. In addition, the victim, which is usually the wife of the offender, would be brought to a safe place were she would receive medical attention and can talk to someone (a women), since the best method of digesting such tragedy is to share it with someone that can listen and give advice. Safe places are established in many modern countries such as Switzerland, but unfortunately this is not the norm in all parts of the country, since it is not law yet. Such safe houses are essential in aiding the sufferers, since they offer a basic human need; food and shelter. If sadly a child is involved in the conflict, or is actually the victim, then normally the authorities will take away the child and find him/her foster parents, where they would receive a new identity and attend a new school. Now, after everyone is settled and calmed down, it is essential for the authorities to investigate exatly what happened and intreview people to find out if there actually had been signs that acted as warnings for the effents to follow. Authorities have to be extra careful

in their research, since many wifes just make up a scenes and stories, in order to get their inocent husbands into jail, so that they can live together with their lovers, and get the money and houses, while their husbands spend their time in jail with mass murderers!

The actual happenings described above are extreme solutions for victims, and are highly effective, but usually the victims feel cautious about causing such trouble to their offender, since they fear that they will be released from prison some day, and get their revenge. Bearing this fact in mind, society must also offer other means of supporting a victim, which are not as radical. A simple hotline can work wonders in offering victims simply someone who is qualified to talk to, and can offer honest advice and back up. The sufferer