The Violence Against Women Act: A Positive Change

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Domestic violence and sexual assault are serious topics to talk about that often leave us with heavy hearts.  However, there have been many positive strives towards ending violence against women that give us a reason for hope. Landmark federal legislation was passed in 1994 entitled the Violence Against Women Act which aims to hold offenders accountable and ensure the provision of direct services to victims.

Fewer people experience domestic violence than before the Violence Against Women Act was enacted in 1994. Between 1993 and 2010, the rate of intimate partner violence declined 67%. Between 1993 to 2007, the rate of intimate partner homicides of females decreased 35% and the rate of intimate partner homicides of males decreased 46%.

More victims are reporting domestic and sexual violence to police, and reports to police are resulting in more arrests. States have reformed their laws to take violence against women more seriously. 

  •  All states have reformed laws that previously treated date or spousal rape as a lesser crime than stranger rape.
  • All states have passed laws making stalking a crime.
  • All states have authorized warrantless arrests in misdemeanor domestic violence cases where the responding officer determines that probably cause exists.
  •  All states provide for criminal sanctions for the violation of a civil protection order.
  • Many states have passed laws prohibiting polygraphing of rape victims.
  • Over 35 states, the District of Columbia, and the U. S. Virgin Islands have adopted laws addressing domestic and sexual violence, and stalking in the workplace. These laws vary widely and may offer a victim time off from work to address the violence in their lives, protect victims from employment discrimination related to the violence, and/or provide unemployment insurance to survivors who must leave their jobs because of the abuse.   
The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized most recently in 2013.  For more information about the Violence Against Women Act, click here. 

Written by Eckie F.

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