Since March, Americans have been asked to stay home as much as possible and wear masks and practice social distancing in public. Like many states, Tennessee enacted a stay-at-home order in response to the impending threat of COVID-19. Tennessee alone has had 123,489 confirmed cases of coronavirus since the virus first came to the United States six months ago. In order to address these high numbers and a lack of vaccinations, Tennessee Gov. Lee has extended its State of Emergency orders to keep Tennesseans out of public spaces and in the safety of their own homes. To some, this safety is even more sparse under their own roof. With more and more people staying in closed quarters, Tennessee has seen an increase in domestic violence against partners, spouses, and children. With domestic violence numbers on the uptick, working with a reputable criminal defense attorney has never been more important.

Domestic Abuse Reports in Tennessee

Close-quarters and a reduced chance of physical abuse marks being seen in public have led to another epidemic that is happening behind closed doors. According to reports from the Tennessean newspaper, one domestic violence hotline saw a 31 percent increase between March 1-30 in the number of calls received when compared to the previous year. Calls to hotlines are not the only evidence of this rise in domestic violence. Chattanooga itself saw a 24 percent increase in domestic violence reports to police during this same time period. Living under one roof is not the only reason for this change in numbers. Recent studies have shown that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger, and substance abuse has increased as a result of the mandatory quarantine. Mental health difficulties can transform into physical abuse that is inflicted on those who are in close proximity.