Just about ten years ago, Massachusetts created a program to train judges to better handle domestic violence cases. Should it be the judges' burden to learn to be psychologically sympathetic toward victims who have accepted their circumstances? Must against-domestic-violence crusaders learn to use their unoccupied time to train victims how to better understand themselves and their chosen relationships?
A few judges thought that the program would be a provocative solution in shrinking domestic violence. The problem is running into the ground worse than when the 1978 Abuse Prevention Act and the Massachusetts program went into effect.
The purpose for the 1978 Act and the 1987 program was to get the message out that home violence is a crime, and victims are protected. Yet, domestic violence zoomed in the 80's, and females are victims in 98% of the domestic violence cases. No one is getting the message. Is the legal system at fault or are there just more victims who have chosen to remain in a degrading environment? What kind of Act or program will we need by the year 2000 before someone gets the message?
There are a growing number of grievances from abused females and their supporters who continue to blame judges for their failure to use the law to protect victims from home violence, making judges accountable for their actions in court. The victims must be accountable when they report the abuser to the legal system, only to return to the arms of the violent mate.
Advocates continue to allege that the reason for the increase is that victims are isolated from friends and family members who could help break the cycle. How did this happen? At the beginning of the relationship, did potential victims grin and bear their mate's abusive behavior, and then surrendered to the bad condition, encouraging their abusers to feel good about controlling and isolating them? Then, the victims must break the cycle.
Let's be reminded that not all family and friends refuse to become involved in home violence. Many people do get involved and take the victim to their home to protect her, and end feeling frustrated because the abuser calls or comes by to apologize and the victim decides, "He's calmer now. He wants to talk. I'm going back home."
Often, the message that victims of home violence are revealing to the public is only what her abuser is doing to her. Society and the legal system know nothing else.
