What’s Causing The Rise of Domestic Assault Cases?
Why is Domestic Assault Such an Issue?
What You Can Do To Minimize Domestic Assault
COVID-19 has, without a doubt, changed the way we live our daily lives. From the schools that our children learn to the offices that we used to work at, almost all of our activity is done at home these days. Other than the occasional trip to the groceries for food and supplies, we really don’t make contact with other people to avoid the spread of the virus as much as possible.
But, no matter how effective social distancing can be to flatten the curve, there are still downsides to holing families and individuals up for extended periods of time. Boredom and loneliness are common among people these days, and people seem to be a little more on-edge than usual. To make matters worse, home-based crime, particularly domestic assault , has seen a sudden surge as of late.
Today, we’re going to be taking a close look at what’s causing these cases to occur more frequently, why they’re such an important issue, and what you can do to help people who are going through it as well.
Domestic assault or domestic violence is the act of a person inflicting abusive or violent actions or words onto a family or household member. This is different from regular assault, which does not involve any connection to family or household. Whether it be degrading words or painful beat-ups, any act of violence towards someone else at home can constitute for domestic assault.
It’s hard to really pinpoint the causes of domestic assault, as it may vary from case to case. However, it is common to see broken or dysfunctional families as common hotspots of domestic violence and assault. Strained relationships between family members are good enough of a reason for this to occur, and you’re more likely to find kids or wives as victims of this type of crime.
As mentioned earlier, local and national governments have seen a stark rise in domestic assault cases in the past few months. Many people have pointed out that COVID-19 has played a large part in this sudden upward trend, but how exactly is the virus the cause of domestic assault? It’s a bit more complicated than you’d think.
You see, with COVID-19 being such a dangerous virus, it’s imperative for the government to enforce quarantine all over the country. Because of this, many families and households have no choice but to live together and see each other 24/7. To a typical family, this may not make much of a difference, but to dysfunctional households, it can be a huge problem.
Many family members who are victims of domestic assault often try to stay away from home as much as possible, either by hanging out with friends or loitering around town. With both options out of the picture thanks to COVID-19, however, direct confrontation ends up being inevitable, which results in the rise of domestic abuse.
But that’s not the only way COVID-19 has affected domestic assault cases. It’s no secret at this point that many people are currently struggling with their lives. Plenty of individuals have lost their jobs to the outbreak, and many others have even lost the lives of their loved ones, too. All that pent-up frustration, stress, and grief, if not attended to properly, ends up being released violently towards other family members, which can lead to the domestic assault cases that we’re dealing with today.
COVID-19 has not only forced broken families and households to confront each other but has also caused grief and frustration among its victims. It’s no wonder that domestic assault has seen such an unfortunate surge in occurrence as of late.
It goes without saying that all crime is inherently bad. But what makes domestic assault, in particular, such an important issue to tackle? The answer lies in the victims. You see, these cases aren’t just some spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment situations - domestic assault is the result of days, weeks, maybe even years of pent-up emotion and frustration. It’s a lot more deep-rooted than you may think.
Because of its deep emotional involvement, it’s very likely that the domestic assault cases being reported are simply just repeated cases of past, unknown incidents. For all we know, these new cases may have just been the continuation or worsening, of something that was already taking place even before the COVID-19 outbreak.
And with no real place for the victims to escape, domestic assault turns their only home into a living nightmare. They don’t want to stay home in fear of their family members, but can’t leave either in fear of COVID-19. This keeps them stuck between a rock and a hard place, and they have no choice but to deal with the problem themselves.
Even if the domestic assault stops, victims are still left emotionally and/or physically scarred. Studies have linked depression, substance abuse, and anxiety to cases of domestic assault and violence. It leaves a mark on them that they have to carry for the rest of their lives.
With the domestic assault on the rise, it’s important to know the steps to take to help save people from their own homes. Whether you’re a victim of domestic assault yourself or know someone who’s going through it, you’ll need to know what you can do to end the pain.
Many of you readers probably already know someone who’s experiencing domestic abuse, but for those who don’t, you’ll need to pay close attention to your friends and loved ones. Check up on them, see if they’re alright. If they’re willing, have them talk to you about their current situation at home with their families. If there’s anything wrong, be sure to tell them that you can help them find legal assistance.
If you know anyone who’s going through domestic assault, you’ll need to find someone capable enough of helping them out. In particular, you’ll want to find an attorney or professional who can help file a case against the abuser, so that your friend or loved one can be given justice and peace of mind.
Unfortunately, even courts and court hearings have been impaired due to COVID-19, and the whole process of filing a case isn’t that simple these days. That’s why we recommend working with someone who has experience in these kinds of situations. You’ll need all the help you can get.
Alternatively, you can always call the Assaulted Women’s Helpline for help. Their website has the instructions you need to get in contact with them, and they have toll-free numbers if you want to give them a call. The hotline is meant for women in abusive relationships, though, so keep that in mind when you contact them.
No one should ever have to go through domestic assault. If you know anybody who’s experiencing abuse by someone in their household, give them the emotional support they need, and seek help for them as soon as possible. COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s crucial that these people get a helping hand.
