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17Aug 2020

How Has Society Viewed Domestic Violence?

Currently, society is now taking domestic abuse very seriously, as it should. Society has become intolerant of the crime of domestic abuse. However, in the past, society has not always held this view of domestic 
violence as a crime or as a domestic partner as a potential criminal.

Back in the 1800s, the practice of beating one's wife was certainly frowned upon, but it wasn't viewed as a crime. Society held a common belief that the wife was the "property" of the husband. As the century drew to a close this view began to change. Tennessee was the first state to enact a law against beating one's wife. By 1920 every state had passed the same or similar law.

Even though domestic violence was officially a crime, through the mid The 1900s not much was done about it. The police were reluctant to pursue any complaints or arrest anyone for the crime. It was essentially viewed as a "family matter."

In the late 20th century society began to be much less permissive with crimes such as domestic violence. Most significant was the passing of the Violence Against Women Act, part of the legislation arising out of the Women's Rights Movement of the 1970s. It was during the last decades of the 1900s that prosecutors and police began responding to, arresting and charging people with spousal abuse.

That brings us to today, where in many parts of the world, domestic violence is viewed as it was here a hundred years ago or more. However, in America, it is now considered unacceptable, as it should be. It is taken very seriously and police and prosecutors and vigilant about enforcing laws against domestic abuse. If you live in Burlington, Essex, Colchester, Winooski, Williston, Shelburne or anywhere in the state of 
Vermont, and have been arrested or charged with DUI or any crime, call Handy Law for aggressive and experienced legal defense.