NCJ Number
190221
Journal
Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Social Psychology Volume: 5 Issue: 1&2 Dated: January/July 2000 Pages: 193-201
Date Published
2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article examines domestic violence in regard to family relationships in Trinidad and Tobago.
Abstract
Used in its widest sense domestic violence encompasses child abuse, be it physical, psychological or sexual, violence between siblings, abuse of parents, and spousal abuse. While females are usually the victims of violence in the home, it is often difficult to estimate the actual incidence of violence in the household because the problem is largely a hidden one, and individuals often deny the problem. Those individuals who have reported sometimes underestimate the amount of violence they have suffered. The adverse consequences of violence in the family are not only confined to the victim of abuse. Children of all ages are deeply affected by domestic violence and are likely to be neglected or abused if they are in an abusive family unit. Elderly relatives and family members with disabilities are just as vulnerable to the various forms of domestic violence. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of abuse is complicated when the victim cannot respond appropriately to questions. In the majority of cases, the abusive individual is present during the time of the visit and treatment. In accordance with the Domestic Violence Act of 1999 in determining whether or not to impose a prohibition on the domestic violence offender, the court is expected to regard the history of the violence, the welfare of any child, and the need to preserve and protect the institution of marriage and other relationships while offering protection to the family. Other policy recommendations include reflecting the singular nature of domestic crime legally, providing police with appropriate powers and training, an interdisciplinary approach within the government, working with the perpetrator, and raising awareness through education and changing attitudes.