Policy Issues Paper free essay sample

Violence in any form can have a lasting effect on a person. Children who witness violence are permanently scarred because of what they are seeing. Children who witness family or domestic violence are affected in ways similar to children who are physically abused. Children are often unable to establish nurturing bonds with either parent and are at a greater risk for abuse and neglect if he or she lives in a violent home. Statistics show that an estimated 3. 3 million children are exposed to violence against their mothers or female caretakers by family members in their home each year (Ackerman Pickering, 1989). When a spouse, woman or male is abused, and there are children at home, the children will be affected by the abuse. This paper will refer to the video, â€Å"Child Exposure to Domestic Violence. † â€Å"Child Exposure to Domestic Violence† is a video about personal crime that looks at how children react to witnessing domestic violence. We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Issues Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The children in the video have witnessed their father physically abusing their mother and have heard his or her father making death threats toward his or her mother. The video starts off referring to the children of O.  J. and Nicole Brown-Simpson. Nicole was a victim of domestic violence and was found murdered with her boyfriend. O. J. was found not guilty of her murder but was found guilty in her civil lawsuit. The video asks what the children saw or heard, if anything. Studies show that child abuse occurs in nearly 30 to 60% of family violence cases that involve families with children. 6,000 American families were surveyed, and it was found that 50% of men who assault their wives, also abuse his children. Research shows that 80 to 90% of children living in homes where there is domestic violence are aware of the violence (American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family: Report of the APA Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, 1996). The causal factors addressed in the video were of a man who went to his ex-girlfriend’s residence and attempted to break in by climbing into a window. Out of fear she contacted police and had him arrested for violating the order of protection she had placed on him. In the video, the three year-old son was standing in the doorway and witnessed his father getting arrested. The little boy time and time again has witnessed his parents arguing and fighting. The police have been to their house more than 20 times and his father served six months in jail for domestic violence. Children react to their environment in different ways, and those reactions can vary, depending on the childs gender and age. Children exposed to family violence are more likely to develop behavioral, emotional, psychological, and social problems than those who are not. Recent research indicates that children who witness domestic violence show anger and temperament problems, depression, low self-esteem, and more anxiety than children who do not witness violence in the home. The trauma they experience can show up in behavioral, physical, social, and emotional disturbances that affect their development and can continue into adulthood. No financial issues were discussed in the video. However, the financial issues that can be associated are a loss of a two person income in the family. When one family member goes away who may be the primary breadwinner of the family, the household becomes the responsibility of the mother which in-turn can cause a financial strain. Another financial issue can be legal fees and court costs. The father served six months in jail for domestic violence and was led away in handcuffs for violating the restraining order. He will have to obtain a lawyer and pay restitution to the court or his ex-girlfriend. The father also can be responsible for child support and may lose his employment because of his legal troubles. The basis for this selected video was as a result of having the experience a child who was raised in household that witnessed my father abusing my mother. Also witnessed my siblings experiencing the same type of abuse from their significant others. Was not raised in a two parent household, was raised only by my mother who struggled to heal from her scars of being abused for many years. I can relate to the video by knowing what the children were feeling at the time, the fear, shock, and hurt that I witnessed growing up. From the criminal aspect, this video shows the Actus Reus, the criminal act of being caught at the scene attempting to gain entry into his ex-girlfriends residence. Domestic violence is represented by a negative reaction. Men hit and abuse other family members because of control and because they have feelings of shame and humiliation which leads to feelings of anger, hostility and rage. Pathological or emotional conflict in the forms of aggression and violence occur, whether an individual has unacknowledged humiliation, dissociation, or depression and is transformed into reactive rage and anger.