Non-carceral approach to domestic violence???
Are they kidding?
Non-carceral refers to a culturally appropriate (??), community-based (??) response to domestic violence that is disconnected from the criminal justice system, and includes avoiding involvement with law enforcement, courts, prosecution offices, probation departments, and family separation.
What?!?
This sounds like something right out of a complementarian patriarchal playbook for how Christian wives should deal with domestic violence. Stay and pray and keep the family together at all cost…. But this “non-carceral” concept is now being put forward in secular society, in secular magazines dedicated to eradicating domestic violence!
This is truly scary.
Domestic violence is a crime. It should remain a crime. It should be enforced and prosecuted as the crime it is. There is no such thing as culturally appropriate in anything having to do with domestic violence (though it is more prevalent in some cultures than others).
Regardless of culture, law enforcement, courts, prosecution officers, and yes, family separation (from the perpetrator for the safety of the victim and children) should be involved. Christians need to support victims in this, regardless of their cultural backgrounds, and speak out against this DV related non-carceral business anytime the subject comes up—despite what their pastors or spiritual leaders may say to the contrary.
Where is the protection when assault and battery is treated differently when it is a husband doing the assaulting rather than a stranger? Assault and battery is a criminal offense; it is dangerous and sometimes deadly. Domestic violence isa criminal offense; it is dangerous and sometimes deadly. That means a husband who beats his wife should be arrested and prosecuted. Christian wives should be encouraged to seek the protection of law enforcement and the courts.
Yes, the problem of DV is multi-faceted, but at its most basic, domestic violence is mostly violence against women. At its root, DV is hatred against and anger towards women. By definition this makes it a hate crime. But women have never had the protection of VAW being classified as a hate crime. That’s wrong and should be remedied.
Women are dying. Wives die from being assaulted by their husbands, and from related health problems caused by physical attacks and associated illness from mental and emotional abuse, and problems caused by extreme stress and years of fear and abuse.
It is high time for all who name the name of Christ to stand strong in protecting women from the horror and danger of domestic violence. Stand strong for protecting women. And stand strong against this non-carceral business.
Jocelyn Andersen writes and speaks about a variety of topics with an emphasis on the subjects of domestic violence awareness and God and Women. She is working on her first novel and is the author of several non-fiction books including, "Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence" and "Woman this is WAR! Gender, Slavery, and the Evangelical Caste System." Her work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television. She is open to requests for writing assignments, anthology contributions, and conference speaker.
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