COVID-19 and its Effect on Domestic Violence

Abstract

Background: Since 2020, there has been a pandemic that has impacted many countries around the world and it is known as the COVID-19 pandemic. For years, this pandemic has altered the ways in which people socialize, interact with each other in person, as well as altering employment, work hours, and the amount of time spent at home with others. This pandemic has led to the creation of policies such as lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. These policies have affected the economic stability and employment of many individuals as well as isolated them with others which affects them mentally. Objective: This study aims to identify whether or not there has been an increase in the prevalence and severity of domestic violence crimes during the pandemic and what specific factors were involved. Design and Method: The research method involves a case study which took place in the Integrated Domestic Violence Court in Westchester County, New York. Two samples of case files were selected at random. One sample was made up of cases that took place prior to the pandemic and the other sample was made up of cases that took place between 2020-2021. The research also involved scholarly journal articles from a psychology database. Results: This study is significant because of how many countries around the world are being affected by this issue. Revisions to public policy and reformation regarding the access to support resources would be needed to help remove the opportunities that perpetrators are given after the implementation of these new restrictions. Conclusion: At this time, lawmakers need to increase their understanding of the different ways in which a lockdown and stay-at-home policy can affect a person's life as well as a person who may be cohabitating with that individual. Lawmakers should work to revise the previous policies to create one that can keep the public safe and work with domestic violence victims and prevention services to ensure the safety of the victims. There should also be more research conducted on the mental state of offenders to identify early signs and work on methods of intervention. Keywords: Offender, pandemic, domestic violence, charge(s), lockdown, stay-at-home order.