Question

According to data, domestic violence has been falling dramatically over the last 10 to 20 years. Is this attributed to mandatory arrest policies or to some other factor? Explain and elaborate.

Answer 1

According to a research conducted by Farmer and Tiefenthaler (2008), there are three important factors that likely contribute to the decline in domestic violence. Firstly, there is an increased provision of legal services for victims of
intimate partner abuse. These legal services help women with practical matters such as protective orders and appear to actually present women with real, long-term alternatives to their relations. Secondly, with improvements in women’s economic status, there is a decreased likelihood of abuse. It was found that women’s educational attainment had negative relationship with domestic violence. Finally, demographic trends, most notably the aging of the population, seems also to lead to the decline. Younger women, women with
young children, and women who live in low-income household were found to be more likely to be victims of abuse.
References:
Farmer, A., & Tiefenthaler, J. (2003). Explaining the Recent Decline in Domestic Violence. Contemporary Economic Policy,21(2), 158-172. doi:10.1093/cep/byg002