Domestic violence victims are protected by federal and state laws and can seek relief in criminal or civil courts. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is among the regulations that ensure additional resources are provided effectively to violence victims. However, successful law implementation can be challenged by individual or political factors. The purpose of this paper is to compare articles regarding how the ability of law enforcement can be limited.
Leigh Goodmark addresses the decriminalization of domestic violence. According to the author, the US took a path towards criminalizing domestic violence and has continued to follow it, using various legal systems (Goodmark, 2017). As a result, scholars argue that the trend towards the criminalization of domestic violence saw a surge in mass incarceration, creating a societal problem (Goodmark, 2017). The article highlights how political and social issues impact the execution of domestic violence laws. Miller and Segal (2019) in the second article, question whether women in the police force impact crime reporting policies and domestic violence escalation. According to Miller and Segal (2019), women’s involvement in law enforcement has geared significant influence. In most cases, women are the common victims of violence at home and confide easily to female officers.
In both articles, the central idea concerning law enforcement abilities highlights the key areas where legal institutions and the government could effectively address domestic violence issues. Goodmark (2017) informs that positioning domestic violence as a noncriminal act is not the right approach. Similarly, Miller and Segal (2019) advise that increasing the female police force enhances law enforcement relating to domestic violence at an individual level. Thus, to counter social crimes in the community, more female police can support law reinforcement.
However, the article by Goodmark (2017) is politics-based, informing of two conflicting issues facing the criminal justice system. The decision on whether domestic violence should be decriminalized is subject to political debate, proposers asserting a relief on mass incarceration (Goodmark, 2017). The article by Miller and Segal (2019) looks at law enforcement’s approach from an individual perspective. The authors infer that, without female police officers in the policing system, crime reporting would likely reduce because victims will retaliate from opening up to male officers.
In summary, implementing domestic violence laws is a crucial step to protecting vulnerable individuals in the communities. Studies reveal that some political and individual forces can limits regulatory practices, requiring alternative approaches and reinforcements. At the enforcement stage, careful consideration of the identified factors is paramount. Federal and state laws on domestic violence are clear on objectives, and strategies to mitigate limiting factors should be carried for maximum effectiveness.
References
Goodmark, L. (2017). Should domestic violence be decriminalized?Harvard Journal of Law and Gender, 40(1). 53-113. Web.
Miller, A. R., & Segal, C. (2019). Do female officers improve law enforcement quality? Effects on crime reporting and domestic violence. The Review of Economic Studies, 86(5), 2220-2247. Web.