{"id":351805,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:03","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/domestic-violence\/domestic-violence-background.html"},"modified":"2025-04-11T14:20:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T19:20:56","slug":"domestic-violence-background","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-violence\/domestic-violence-background.html","title":{"rendered":"History of Domestic Violence Laws in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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History of Domestic Violence Laws in the U.S.<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Domestic violence in the U.S. has a complex history. It wasn’t until the 19th century that states like Alabama and Massachusetts began to outlaw domestic abuse. The civil rights and women’s movements of the mid-20th century catalyzed the first shelters and legal reforms. These shifts paved the way for significant legislative changes like the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and ongoing adjustments to protective and gun laws to safeguard victims.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The U.S. Department of Justice<\/a> defines domestic violence as any pattern of abusive behavior by one partner in an intimate relationship to control another. Domestic violence does not only occur between spouses. Victims of domestic violence can include family members, children, and former spouses and partners.<\/p>\r\n

The criminal justice system has been slow to recognize and address domestic violence as a crime. Throughout most of history, domestic violence remained a family matter or a minor note on the police blotter. Law enforcement generally didn’t take domestic violence seriously until the 20th century. The first comprehensive domestic violence laws appeared in the 1970s.<\/p>\r\n

In this article, you can learn about:<\/p>\r\n