100+ Organizations Demand Sweeping Changes to Domestic Violence Laws

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Stewart

Telephone: 513-479-3335

100+ Organizations Demand Sweeping Changes to Domestic Violence Laws

WASHINGTON / June 23, 2021 – One-hundred and two organizations, representing both liberal and conservative perspectives, are calling for large-scale changes to state domestic violence laws.

For example, 41 groups have expressed abiding concerns about the need for domestic violence laws to promote family preservation; to be more responsive to victims’ wishes; to direct resources to persons in greatest need; to assure limited government; and to safeguard due process protections (1).

Other organizations are demanding reforms in these three areas:

End over-criminalization
Stop false allegations
Provide services to male victims

End Over-Criminalization

Forty-six state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions have endorsed a “Moment of Truth” document that expresses remorse for the movement’s long-standing focus on “increased policing, prosecution, and imprisonment as the primary solution to gender-based violence.” The Statement calls for a curtailment of state and local level mandatory arrest policies (2).

Stop False Allegations

Eight percent of Americans, representing over 20 million persons, report they have been wrongfully accused of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse (3). Broad and vague definitions in state laws are seen as a major contributor to false allegations (4). So-called “coercive control” laws further aggravate this problem (5).

Provide Services to Male Victims

Even though more men than women report being victims of domestic violence each year (6), a recent report documents large sex disparities in the provision of services. For example, recipients of the Legal Assistance to Victims services are 6% male and 94% female (7).

In addition, African-Americans for VAWA Reform is demanding that domestic violence laws be sex-inclusive; assure culturally-sensitive laws; respect due process; stop false allegations; curb wrongful prosecutions; and assure the accountability of funds (8).

All told, 102 organizations that identify as liberal and conservative are demanding sweeping changes to state and federal domestic violence laws. A complete listing of the names of these groups and links to their list of demands are available online (9).

The Coalition to End Domestic Violence urges state lawmakers to pause consideration of pending domestic violence bills until the concerns of these 102 groups can be fully analyzed.

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