Research ProposalProblem or ObjectiveThe Boston Police Department has begun enforcing new laws that require an officer to make an arrest when responding to cases of violence domestic. This is a strict new law that is being enforced. Previously, there was no need to make an arrest for such an incident. The officer had to ensure that the parties were safe and be able to judge what action to take next. Now, the law requires them to make an arrest if they respond to a domestic violence case. It is important to study whether the enactment of this new law has led to a change in the behavior of people in intimate relationships regarding domestic violence. Hypothesis The hypothesis of this research will be: “Have the new stricter policies regarding domestic violence between intimate partners led to a decrease in repeat offenders? “This research is very important in determining what steps can be taken to deter this crime.” There are many approaches to fighting crime. There are preventative methods to prevent a crime from happening. There is also a punitive method of crime prevention which involves making the punishment very high for committing a crime. This prevents people from committing a crime and offenders from reoffending. This research aims to determine whether making the sentence harsher will work against repeat and future repeat offenders. This research is linked to a broader theory that harsh punishments deter crime. Their goal is to prevent people from committing a crime out of fear of the punishment that will follow. This research is applicable to many facets of rampant crime. This will help determine whether the adoption of stricter laws and their enforcement helps reduce the risks associated... middle of paper ...... policies must be able to effectively combat crime. The findings of this study can be used to formulate policies in the state and other states. The study plays an important role in understanding the nature of domestic violence and how enforcing stricter laws against it will affect its prevalence in the community. Works CitedClarke, Ronald Situational Crime Prevention. New York: Sage, 2005. PrintKennedy, Bernice R. Domestic Violence: Also called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). New York: iUniverse, 2013. Print.Shipway, Lyn. Domestic Violence: A Handbook for Health Professionals. London: Routledge, 2004. Print. US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, (2006) “Criminal Victimization, 2005”, September 2006. US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, (2006) “Intimate Partner Violence in the United States”, December 2006.