Other than the sexist name and good PR for the politicians who enacted it, what does the Violence Against Women Act actually do that isn't already covered in your other laws? Is there a Violence Against Men Act too? Did they sexistly renew that one but not this one? I have not read this act, and I am amazed if violence against women (and men) wasn't already a crime before it.
I think this is a prefectly fair question. It would not be the first time that a largely empty congressional act with a popular name made it to the floor. The Act has had the following practical effects:
- Originally passed in 1994, it opened up $1.6 Billion dollars to pursue previously uninvestigated or unprosecuted cases of violence against women by men. This was in response to reports that such cases had been disproportionated dropped or dismissed by civil or legal authorities for many decades.
- Those convicted as a result of those investigations were subject to immediate and mandatory restitution upon sentencing.
- If a state refused to prosecute a case, it legalized (potential) civil redress to the victim via the civil court system.
Originally, it had strong bipartisan support, passing with a roughly 2/3 majority in the house and Senate. Clinton signed it into law; Bush Jr re-authorized it in 2000 and 2005.
There is no Violence Against Men Act, to my knowledge, though of course any physical violence against another person is already a crime for both genders.
