The Violence Against Women Act is unlikely to reduce intimate partner violence – here's why
October 17, 2018, The Conversation
The Violence Against Women Act, the federal government's signature legislation aimed at responding to domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and stalking, expired at the end of September.
Legislative wrangling over the act's provisions led to the expiration. This was not the first time controversy has gotten in the way of extending the legislation. Originally passed with strong bipartisan support in 1994, a previous reauthorization ran into problems as a result of disputes involving protection for Native Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of violence, and undocumented women.
Although Congress has temporarily reauthorized the act, its future is again uncertain, and advocates warn of the dire consequences of failing to pass the law.
But the fact is that the criminal system supported by the act isn't stopping intimate partner violence.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-violence-women-intimate-partner.html
