Family and Sexual Violence
Nursing and U.S. Policy
Kathryn Laughon, Angela Frederick Amar
“If the numbers we see in domestic violence were applied to terrorism or gang violence, the entire
country would be up in arms, and it would be the lead story on the news every night.”
Rep. Mark Green, Wisconsin
Our society is steeped in violence. In the most recent national statistics, more than 26 per 1000
people aged 12 years or older will be the victims of a violent crime (Truman, Langton, & Planty,
2013). Most of our violence prevention strategies prepare potential victims to ward off violent
attacks from strangers; yet, someone known to the victim perpetrates most violence against women,
children, and older adults. The intimate nature of this violence, often perpetrated behind closed
doors, has made these forms of violence less visible. However, the toll of violence on individuals
and societies is substantial. The World Health Organization has framed violence as a significant
public health problem (Truman, Langton, & Planty, 2013). A public health approach suggests an
interdisciplinary, science-based approach with an emphasis on prevention. Effective strategies draw
on resources in many fields, including nursing, medicine, criminal justice, epidemiology, and other
social scientists.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of state, federal, and health sector policies
regarding violence against women in the United States, briefly discuss policies related to violence
against children and older adults, and outline the resulting implications for nurses and directions
for future work.
