Question

Historically, the legal response to domestic violence has been rather mild. Do you think stricter law and tighter enforcement would make the problem better or worse?

Answer 1

Stricter law for domestic violence has been urged for ages now and there have been further provisions in the laws in the last decade. There have been provisions to add a felony charge for repeat offenders who have been arrested more than once in a period of five years. Such provisions have been made available in order to avoid domestic violence and related deaths.

There are many factors that go into account when domestic violence cases are handled. The laws are a double-edged sword. If they are capable of providing relief to the victim, they are also capable of maligning the identity of the perpetrator, if the perpetrator is being framed. It is important for the law enforcement agencies to identify and ensure that the domestic violence allegations have proof enough to be acted upon prior to pressing the felony charges.

But, from the perspective of countless victims of domestic violence, both alive and dead, it is important for the law to be strict enough for the perpetrators to fear to unleash violence. It is important that the victims feel safe enough to report the violence knowing that action will be taken and that the accused will not be spared. More than making the laws stricter, implementing the laws as expected is the need of the hour. At any rate, the problem shall not become worse by making it stricter, if there are proper ways to ascertain the actual facts of the case and arrive at the guilty party. Tighter enforcement in such cases shall make things easier.