Earlier this year, Public Health Law Watch, in collaboration with members of the George Consortium and other partner organizations, hosted a series of legal briefings related to COVID-19 and legal and policy issues associated with the global pandemic. Experts and scholars joined us for bi-weekly livestreamed discussions on these issues. We invite you to read the summaries of selected episodes below! And, enjoy relistening to the series (linked below and archived on our #COVIDLawBriefing webpage).
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6/9/2020: Domestic Violence
Mod: Leo Beletsky
Speaker: Margo Lindauer
In this #COVIDLawBrief Professor Beletsky moderates a discussion with Professor Lindauer on the under-discussed issue of domestic violence. Dating back to before the pandemic, it is clear that domestic violence is under-reported. Professor Lindauer cited that between one in three and one in four individuals will be impacted by inter-partner violence in their lives. Unfortunately, even this estimate is far too low. As predicted, in the provider community, there has been a sharp drop off of people requesting help. This is for multiple reasons, primarily, because there are far less opportunities to get help with many people’s perpetrators spending significantly more time with them as the quarantine has sent people home from work. Additionally, the heightened stress can make people hesitant to reach out and further complicate an already stressful situation. There also has not been consistent actions taken by judges across different courts. This lack of information has likely made survivors more hesitant to take action against their perpetrator. As opposed to the medical field, where telemedicine has been integral in the response to COVID-19, in the courts, technology is yet to disseminate into the legal field. Without the courts going online, it has been more challenging for survivors to learn about their legal options as well as meet with lawyers. A concern with this new technology is issues of accessibility, however, Professor Lindauer believed that with smartphones, many courtroom innovations could take place. The conversation ended by talking about the failings of law enforcement for survivors. From police not taking the proper steps to help victims, to DA’s being unwilling to prosecute their abusers, law enforcement has failed survivors. Professor Lindauer, hoped that in the future, the system would include more alternative forms of prosecution that are “victim centered.” It must include ways to ensure victim safety, and better housing alternatives.
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Public Health Law Watch’s COVID Law Briefings are co-sponsored by the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University School of Law, the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law, the Network for Public Health Law, and the APHA Law Section.