Domestic Violence Registries: Protecting or Harming Victims?

While some US states are proposing domestic violence offender registries in an effort to increase transparency and protect victims, experts warn these registries could actually do more harm than good. Tennessee has emerged as a leader in this controversial approach, but advocates argue it may provide a false sense of security for victims and even identify them to their abusers.

When Amanda Martin started dating Christopher Cendroski, she had no idea he had a history of domestic assault arrests. Had she known, Martin said she never would have become involved with him. A few months into their relationship in 2011, Cendroski began beating Martin, and in May 2012, he nearly choked her to death. Police arrested Cendroski and helped Martin and her children get to a safety shelter.

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