A Pattern of Abusive Behavior - Domestic Violence
A pattern of abusive behavior between related parties known as "domestic violence" is used by one party to keep control over the other's intimate companion. Threats and acts may be physical, mental, psychological, sexual, and/or economic. Intimidation, humiliation, seclusion, manipulation, terrorizing, blaming, inflicting harm on another person, and threatening behavior are some of the actions and behaviors that can be classified as domestic violence. (Payne & Wermeling, 2009). A companion may feel threatened and abused due to the aforementioned behaviors.
Stalking - A Separate Problem
On the other hand, stalking is a behavior that can be committed by strangers or acquaintances, particularly against females by their ex-partners. If a person reports allegations of stalking, the police should handle it seriously because it can cause harm or murder. However, the behavior cannot be viewed as part of domestic violence and thus it should be treated as a separate problem (Wihbey, 2013).
Mutual Violence - Self-defense against an Aggressor, and the Instance it is a Retaliation
Mutual violence refers to a situation when both the partners engage in violence that can be either self-defense or revenge. Mutual domestic violence puts the blame on the survivor and thus reinforces the behavior of the aggressor because they feel that their action is justified. A partner may engage in crime to defend them against an attacker. A victim has the right to self-defense and especially when the partner feels that they can protect against the perpetrator. However, the extent of the injury on assessment should be equally the same. A case where the victim inflicts a lot of injuries on the aggressor may not be viewed as self-defense. On the contrary, when a previous victim later harms the attacker, this can be considered as retaliation or a counterattack (Saunders, 1986). A victim acting against an aggressor for self-defense is permitted.
Violence as a Self-Defense
Sometimes when a victim acts in self-defense, it can be mistaken for mutual abuse especially by the law enforcers. The police might not be able to sort and follow the chain of events, and they may be forced to arrest both parties even when the victim was acting in self-defense. Therefore, some oppressed people become reluctant to call the police. Therefore, it is mandatory for law enforcement bodies to understand the different ways to react and intervene to situations. For example, they have to assess the level of injuries on the aggressor and be able to judge if the victim acted in self-defense or was it retaliation. In other words, if a victim responds to a violent attack with reciprocal violence rather than seeking police assistance, they should not be considered an aggressor because they acted in self-defense (Robinson, 2015).
Policy Implications and Domestic Violence in the Allocation of Victim Services
The law requires that in reported cases of domestic violence, the victim and the aggressor have to be assessed to determine the category of abuse. The law recognizes the right of the victim to defend them in a reasonable, appropriate, and justifiable manner. The force used in self-defense can be considered by assessing the nature of the attack and the differences in strength. For instance, it is not allowed to shoot an aggressor who wanted to punch you. In allocating the victim services, the law has to consider the defensive and the offensive injuries, its severity, and whether the victim acted in self-defense. Again, they should consider if the victim has ever been involved in any form of offense by checking the records. Listening to witness statements is also mandatory to help determine the handling of the victim (Wihbey, 2013).
References
Payne, D., & Wermeling, L. (2009). Domestic Violence and the Female Victim: The Real Reason Women Stay! Journal of Multicultural, Gender, and Minority Studies, 3(1), 1-5.
Robinson, A. (2015). Shedding Light: Domestic Violence Research in the BJC (1960-2014). British Journal of Criminology, 2(1).
Saunders, D. (1986). When battered women use violence: husband-abuse or self-defense? Violence Victim, 1(1), 47-60.
Wihbey, J. (2013). Domestic violence and abusive relationships: Research review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75(3), 565-581.
