Clarissa Martinez, & Dr. Daniel Sandoval
Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue with multifaceted consequences necessitating effective intervention strategies. This article will examine the influence of demographic factors, namely age, gender, and ethnicity, on the propensity of domestic violence victims returning to the Ventura Family Justice Center (VFJC) for assistance. Our study will begin discussing age as a significant determinant, whereby younger victims often encounter distinct barriers accessing justice centers. Conversely, older victims may face challenges associated with societal perceptions of domestic violence in later life. We will also look into the impact of gender dynamics with respect to disparities and stigmatization for women seeking assistance. Lastly, our research shows ethnic minority groups encounter systematic obstacles stemming from language barriers, cultural norms, and mistrust of authorities, thereby influencing their decision to go back to the offender.
With these factors in mind we will examine the extent to which demographic factors, such as, age, gender, and ethnicity, influence recidivism rates of domestic violence victims returning to the VFJC. This study will focus on quantitative research methods collected from the datasets the VFJC has provided based off of intake forms. We will look at domestic violence victims and specifically study those who have returned to the center for a second time with a new case. Through gathered information, we consider age ranging from 18-60+, gender, as well as the victims’ ethnicity. The data gathered was collected over a three-year span between 2020 to newly updated data of March 2024. My expected findings are that demographic factors will prove to have an effect on why domestic violence victims return back to abusive partnerships that cause them to also return to the VFJC, we can also assume that gender will be the most prevalent variable to influence this outcome. Through a comprehensive look at these demographic factors, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding domestic violence victims and recidivism.