Structured Approach to Addressing Domestic Violence in the US
This paper examines the growing problem of domestic violence in the United States, with particular attention to the surge in cases linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on data from the CDC, SAMHSA, and scholarly sources, it identifies key risk factors and the wide-ranging impacts of domestic violence on victims, families, and society. The paper then proposes a Structured Multipronged Approach (SMA) modeled on Eggers and O'Leary's five-step "journey to success" framework. The SMA incorporates initial responses such as mandatory arrest and protective orders, short-term measures including deterrence and reconciliation, and long-term strategies such as offender rehabilitation and family therapy. Stakeholder coordination and ongoing reevaluation are emphasized as essential to the initiative's success.
- Introduction: US crime context and domestic violence overview
- The Problem: Defining and Understanding Domestic Violence: Definition, risk factors, and societal impacts
- Addressing the Problem: The Structured Multipronged Approach: SMA framework with tiered response phases
- Implementation and Stakeholder Coordination: Stakeholder roles and implementation steps
- Generating and Evaluating Results: Success metrics and reevaluation process
- Conclusion: Summary of findings and policy recommendation
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- It grounds the policy proposal in empirical context, citing CDC, SAMHSA, and peer-reviewed literature to establish the problem before offering solutions.
- It applies an established theoretical framework (Eggers and O'Leary's five-step process) to organize a practical, multi-stage policy response, lending structural credibility to the argument.
- It differentiates between initial, short-term, and long-term response phases, showing an understanding that complex social problems require layered, sustained interventions.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a borrowed organizational framework as a scaffolding device. By mapping Eggers and O'Leary's government initiative model onto a crime policy proposal, the author shows how frameworks from public administration can be adapted to applied criminal justice contexts. This technique strengthens analytical coherence and signals awareness of interdisciplinary resources.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with national crime statistics to contextualize domestic violence, then defines the problem using scholarly and government sources. The body is organized around the SMA framework, proceeding step-by-step through idea, design (subdivided into initial, short-term, and long-term responses), stakeholder commitment, implementation logistics, desired results, and reevaluation. The conclusion ties outcomes back to the original problem statement. This numbered, process-driven structure suits a policy proposal format well.
Introduction
In comparison to many other developed countries, the United States has a relatively high crime rate. A review of available data — specifically from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — indicates that the most common crimes in the U.S. are larceny/theft, burglary, and aggravated assault, followed by robbery, motor vehicle theft, and rape. Recent data further indicates that over the past few years there has been a surge in certain specific kinds of crimes, most notably robbery, murder, and domestic violence.
This paper concerns itself with domestic violence. In doing so, it not only assesses the nature of this particular problem but also proposes an approach that could be deployed in an attempt to address it. More specifically, a systematic, process-oriented framework will be embraced.
The Problem: Defining and Understanding Domestic Violence
Peterman et al. and van Gelder et al. (as cited in Usher, Bhullar, Durkin, Gyamfi, and Jackson, 2020) define domestic violence as "threatening or other violent behaviors within families that may be physical, sexual, psychological, or economic, and can include child abuse and intimate partner violence" (p. 112). Over the last two years, there have been widespread reports of increased domestic violence across the country, and some researchers have linked this surge to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2020) identifies a range of factors that may have contributed to increased family violence during the pandemic. These include anxiety caused by government-initiated lockdown measures, disconnection from routine social support systems, and major economic devastation. SAMHSA (2020) notes that some of these factors have stimulated family violence both in households where it previously existed and in those where it did not. Beyond pandemic-related stressors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) identifies a broader set of risk factors for domestic violence, including a history of emotional or physical abuse during childhood, insecurity and emotional dependence, drug abuse, social isolation, borderline personality disorder-associated traits, conduct problems, antisocial personality traits, depression and anxiety, and low educational attainment.
Domestic violence impacts not only its direct victims but also other individuals and society at large. Goodmark (2018) indicates that domestic violence victims tend to exhibit a wide range of mental health problems, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety, in addition to any physical injuries sustained. The impact on a person's mental and physical wellbeing can be long-term. Children, other family members, and caregivers who witness instances of domestic violence may present with issues similar to those of first-hand victims, including reduced quality of life and significant mental distress. At the societal level, Goodmark (2018) further notes that victims of domestic violence suffer emotional and physical scars that can prevent them from being productive members of society. Repeated exposure to domestic violence has also been associated with negative health outcomes that can, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, place an additional burden on the healthcare system. For these reasons, the importance of addressing this crime cannot be overstated.
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.