The VAWA has historically been handled as a 'criminal problem.' The funds and grants pooled into the legislation majorly go to the courts, prosecutors and crime fighting institutions. While this sounds good in theory, it leaves a major gap in combating the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault because treating domestic violence and sexual assault as a purely criminal problem completely ignores the underlying causes which, for this issue, can no longer be ignored. 

It's like finishing half a project and saying the project is complete. Calling domestic violence a 'criminal problem' is only investing in half the problem. Educating officers and judges as well as investing in the tools needed to fully and faithfully prosecute is only half the project.

What happens once victims leave the courtroom, or when a victim is unable to report or contact law enforcement? How do we know that all of the funding that is being invested is accessible to victims? Or for that matter, that victims even know the resources are there?

When a victim is thinking about leaving his or her situation, questions arise such as "where am I going to live?" "where am I going to work?" "how am I going to seek protection?"For a victim to feel completely ready to leave, they need close to (if not) 100 percent assurance that they are going to be OK once they do. Too often, that assurance is not granted. The VAWA took a huge step in making that percentage higher, but there is still work to be done.

Some of the answers to those questions would be providing housing for domestic violence victims. Granting comprehensive restraining orders that are permanent -- with no expiration date. Creating legislation that closes the loopholes that allow abusers to continue to access weapons. Even something as simple as providing opportunities for victims to gain employment. Unfortunately, social services, which provide answers to these questions, are nowhere near receiving the amount of money needed to resolve these issues, or the amount of money that is being funneled into the criminal justice system. The goal should be to connect the criminal justice system with these social services in order to create the ideal answers to the burdens these victims faced. But right now, solutions are being tossed at one side of a very complex issue. The more questions that remain unanswered for a victim, the less likely he or she is to leave.

We succeed when all the members of our community succeed. It does not help any of us when one of us is left behind. Prosecuting is only one step of the larger puzzle. Let's finish the whole project.

Right now, 176 Democrats have signed on and supported Rep. Sheila Lee (D-TX) legislation to fully renew the VAWA, and extend its benefits to close loopholes and extend funding to social services. 0 Republicans have vowed to do the same. Check out this link to see if your representative has vowed to stand with victims this December.

Call 202-224-3121 to be connected to the Capitol Switchboard, and transferred to your local senator's office to tell them the VAWA must be renewed in its full capacity this December.

If you need to look up who your representatives are, you can do so here.