An Open Letter to Judges of the Court
Dear Judges of the Court:
Hello my name is Alisha Benson a freshman at Summit Shasta High school. In my English class, we have been completing a project about domestic violence. And through this project, I have realized that people who commit to domestic violence aren’t held accountable for their actions. I wanted to write to you, specifically, because how would you feel if you were a victim of domestic violence and your abuser wasn’t facing the consequences long enough or not at all?
Based on my research, I argue that people who commit to domestic violence should be held accountable for their actions because many kids are affected mentally and physically and the victim in the relationship suffers from control and power.
To start, many kids who experience domestic violence are affected mentally and physically which could hurt their future. To give some context on this issue, many kids who have seen someone they love getting hurt they will be affected by the situation. For instance, emotionally they could develop depression or anxiety. In fact, domestic violence could expose them to being hurt them self. How would you feel being a child and seeing one of your loved ones getting hurt physically hurt?
According to the AIPC an academic professional counselors write,“Challenges of Families Who Experience Domestic Violence”, “Men who beat their wives often begin abusing their children as well. Thus, children in violent families are at high risk of physical as well as psychological injury.” (1). In other words, children are living their lives in chains because of domestic violence. They suffer and develop illnesses that are unhealthy for their beings and traumas that are hard to recover from. This information is significant because traumas of experiencing domestic violence could hurt the child’s future. It also prevents the child from living a free and happy life due to the affects of domestic violence.
Additionally, U.S Department of Women Health Human Services a department who focus on women’s safety , wrote, “Effects of domestic violence on children,” which states, “More than 15 million children in the United States live in homes in which domestic violence has happened at least once” (1).
This is important to know because this shows how domestic violence is not taken to action. Which will have children’s future in the danger zone. In sum, this data shows how children’s future is in danger because domestic violence isn’t held accountable for. Thus, we must have stricter rules against domestic violence. Not only to protect the victim but to protect the younger, newer generation from the abuser.
Furthermore, the victim in the relationship suffers from control and power when dealing with a situation of domestic violence. This is an issue because, abusers have tactics preventing the victim to say anything. Don’t you think they would try to escape if they could? Don’t you think that they would have brought the situation to court if they weren’t scared? Don’t you think many regret not telling anyone? Well, according to Rachel Louise Synder, a journalist and author of domestic violence, their work titled “The Particular Cruelty of Domestic Violence”, states, “The reality is that many victims are actively and stealthily trying to leave […] doing everything they can to escape. In so many cases, onlookers mistake what they see from the outside as the victim choosing to stay with an abuser” (2). This means that many want to leave to live a free happy life but many are scared and afraid of what might happen next. Why is this important? This is important to know because many people’s voices aren’t being heard and someone needs to help them. That is why domestic violence should be held accountable for. Additionally, according to “Private Violence: up to 75% of abused women who are murdered are killed after they leave their partners,” written by Jana Kasperkevic interviews Cynthia Hill director of HBO’s private investigator of violence talks about, “Everything from a dozen red roses and “Oh, baby” and a night out on the town to threats to a gun. He will use any one of the tactics that he feels he needs to use to make sure that his position of power and dominance is maintained in the relationship” (2). This information is important because this tells us how many people suffer due to tactics to keep them quiet. Furthermore, this tells us the lose to the abuser because of power and control. All in all, this shows us how many could be suffering right now and we don’t know yet. Which tells use domestic violence abusers aren’t held accountable yet and we must do something about that.
Some may think otherwise, women could be lying about being abused by their partner. According to Nancy Armour, in their work titled “Reuben Foster [A Forty-Niner football player.]wasn’t only one wronged by ex-girlfriend’s lies about domestic violence”, “Elissa Ennis hurt every person who has been a victim of domestic violence and endangered those who will be in the future. She has made the job of police officers and prosecutors harder” (1). What the author tells us is, Elissa Ennis lying about domestic violence hurts people who have went through domestic violence and many people who love her. Because this gives people a reason that victims are just attention seekers. However, it is also true that many people are actually experiencing this situation. And many aren’t lying. And many are affected. And many abusers aren’t held accountable. According to “4 Damaging Domestic Violence Myths”, “A first slap, push, or punch is not likely to be the only time it happens. Domestic violence is a pattern of manipulative behaviors, which when left unchecked can have serious consequences, […] it is dangerous to assume someone is being untruthful” (2). Therefore, it is never good to assume someone is an attention seeker because patterns of behaviors shouldn’t happening in a non-abusive relationship. How would you feel if someone accused you of something you hadn’t done?
Therefore, I implore you to we have to tighten laws or create laws to protect innocent people before they can’t escape the jungle filled with violence. Another solution is to have a place for abusers where they could become a better version of them self and preventing them from hurting others again. This will make a difference because this will not only prevent the victims to be safe. But it will be beneficial for abusers so they won’t make a problem like that again. This will also push them to be a better version of them self. Which loved ones would be proud of.
Thank you,
Alisha Benson
