The drama of living with abusers in a pandemic 3:13
(CNN) -
Incidents of domestic violence increased in the United States by about 8.1% after the imposition of lockdowns related to the pandemic, according to an analysis by the National Commission on Covid-19 and Criminal Justice (NCCCJ, for its acronym). in English).
The analysis, released Wednesday, was based on a review of 18 US and international studies.
These compared incidents of domestic violence before and after the stay-home orders were implemented last spring.
The studies that formed the basis of the analysis covered a variety of data sources, including police call logs and reports of domestic violence crimes.
Also records of emergency hotlines and health records.
12 steps to surviving an abusive partner during the pandemic
Alex Piquero, chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Miami and lead author of the analysis, told CNN in an interview that researchers found overwhelming evidence of an increase in domestic violence, no matter what metric they examined.
"It was a very shocking result," he said.
Data on domestic violence are particularly difficult to study as many victims do not report crimes to the police or their statements are not taken seriously.
Confinement orders for the pandemic have also further isolated victims.
The situation has alienated them from people who do not live in the houses and who might otherwise see signs of abuse or violence.
The problem of domestic violence 'is worse' than we know
Piquero said he believed the problem was bigger than the study results indicated.
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"In my opinion, I think 8% is a floor and not the ceiling," said Piquero.
"I think the problem is actually worse than we really know at the moment," he added.
For more than a year, experts have been concerned about the rise in domestic violence during the combination of isolation and financial insecurity from the pandemic.
The United Nations has referred to this increase as a "shadow pandemic".
The term refers to people being confined or isolated from outside help.
The NCCCJ authors say the evidence supporting the findings is "strong."
However, they added that it was not clear precisely why domestic violence had increased.
They theorized that economic problems exacerbated factors associated with domestic violence.
Factors include unemployment, financial insecurity, and stress from childcare and home schooling.
Other crimes that increase in pandemic
The report is the latest work from the NCCCJ, which was released last July by the think tank of the Criminal Justice Council.
This is led by former attorneys general Alberto Gonzales and Loretta Lynch.
The organization has previously examined how the covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in violent crime and higher infection and death rates among inmates.
Piquero said there were similarities between the rise in violent crime and homicides and the rise in domestic violence.
In fact, cities across the country have seen an increase in both metrics.
"I see them as something different, but they are all happening under this cloud of literally a really crazy time that we have all been living now for almost a year of our lives," he said.
"It's one thing if you say, 'Well, it's a studio in a place.'
However, these are different cities that use different ways of studying the problem, and all of them give the same result, "said Piquero.
In a press release, NCCCJ Director Thomas Abt said the pandemic has been an especially difficult one for the most vulnerable people in society.
"Policymakers and researchers should work to better understand the impacts of the pandemic and provide additional resources for domestic abuse prevention and victim services, particularly for those who are most isolated and most at risk," added.
Domestic violence