Financial Abuse Research Articles

Analysis of Underlying Factors in Financial Neglect and Abuse in Older Adults: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Objectives: To analyze underlying factors in financial neglect and abuse to enhance understanding and inform interventions that can protect the financial well-being of older adults. Design: A qualitative content analysis approach. Setting(s): Borujen, Shahrekord, Iran. Participants: A sample of 15 older adults (8 females and 7 males) aged 60 and above was selected through a purposeful sampling method from healthcare centres in Borujen, based on specific inclusion criteria. Outcome measures: Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual face-to-face interviews. Results: The findings displayed one overarching category, which is lost property, along with four subcategories, including forced reluctance to pursue the recovery of lent money, deprivation of financial independence, distress due to an inability to recover lent money, and children’s financial evasions in repaying the lent money. Collectively, these factors contributed to older adults perceiving their property as lost. Conclusions: Addressing the burden imposed by financial neglect and abuse necessitates coordinated efforts from authorities, ensuring that policymakers and planners in the fields of health and aging implement concrete measures to raise awareness among families, older adults, and service providers regarding elder abuse. Ultimately, these efforts should aim to improve the quality of life for older adults.

Exploring the Dimensions and Correlates of Teen Economic Abuse Through a Cross-Sectional Survey

PurposeTeen economic abuse (TEA) is an understudied form of adolescent relationship abuse with limited measures available to assess prevalence. The purpose of this article is to assess the underlying dimensions of survey items (developed with youth) to refine measurement of and validate the structures comprising TEA and examine differences in prevalence of TEA perpetration (Prp) and victimization (Vct) by demographic characteristics. MethodsThis cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between July and September 2021. Youth ages 13–19 who read English and reside in the United States were eligible to complete this study. Recruitment occurred through a national violence prevention listserv with an emphasis on reaching organizations serving youth who are unhoused, juvenile justice and child welfare-system involved, identifying as sexual or gender minorities, or from communities of color. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, negative binomial regression models were run to assess associations of demographic characteristics, with levels of TEA Vct and Prp. ResultsAdolescents who identify as White reported significantly more types of TEA exposures than their American Indian or Alaskan Native (adjusted incident rate ratios = 1.3; 95% CI = [1.1, 1.4]), Hispanic Latino (1.2 [1.1, 1.4]), and Multiracial peers (2.4 [1.8, 3.1]). Gender diverse adolescents (1.14 [1, 1.3]) and cisgender females (1.08 [1, 1.2]) had significantly more types of TEA exposures than cisgender males. Those with past-year physical or sexual violence in dating relationships reported more types of TEA exposures (4.1 [3.8, 4.4]) than those who had not experienced such violence. Adolescents with exposure to foster care or homelessness had more types of TEA (1.3 [1.2, 1.4]) than those without such experiences. DiscussionHealthcare providers serving youth should be aware of how economic abuse manifests in adolescent relationships when providing support and resources for youth, especially those who are system-involved or experiencing housing instability. Findings also highlight the need for education about TEA and economic justice in violence prevention programs.

Special Needs in Substance Use Treatment for Women Who Use Drugs: Social and Mental Health Factors

Women who receive substance use treatment have a particular classification of sensitivity to European drugs and drug use (according to the EMCDDA). The average level of women’s treatment is lower than men’s across Europe, while women’s abandonment is higher than men’s. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with problems for women who use drugs, analyzing several psychological and social factors (gender, substance use, mental health, source of economic support, legal status, and abuse). Methodology: This was a quantitative study. Data on 2179 people receiving rehabilitation treatment were obtained from the EuropASI survey. The dependent variables in this study were (1) a patient’s known history of addiction and mental illness; (2) primary drug use; (3) drug use in their lifetime and the past month; (4) mood in their lifetime and the past month, physical condition, and sexual abuse history; (5) mental illness in their lifetime and the past month (including suicide attempts); (6) legal status in their lifetime and the past month; (7) and source of income in the past month and (8) and the number of patients. The factor of gender was taken as a dichotomous variable (male–female). The confidence interval used was 95%. Results: In summary, we found that women had consumed more alcohol, used more drugs, and suffered more from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than men, both during their lifetimes and in the past month. In addition, women were more likely than men to be stigmatized for prostitution because their financial support came mainly from colleagues, friends, and family, as well as from prostitution. Finally, women had experienced more violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) during their lifetimes and in the last month than men. Conclusion: There appears to be a need to develop a comprehensive treatment network for addictive behaviors from a multifactorial perspective, including harm reduction, psychosocial support, and recovery programs; furthermore, targeting specific groups with special needs, such as women, especially those with mental health problems, women with alcoholism, and abused women, it also seems important to develop adaptive recovery programs within addictive behavior treatment networks.

Identifying money laundering risk indicators: Evidence from Bulgaria

The study of the fight against money laundering in Bulgaria takes on a heightened significance due to the country's unique geopolitical and economic context. As a member of the European Union and a key regional player, Bulgaria assumes a pivotal role in preventing cross-border crimes, including money laundering. The present study aims to analyze how modern technologies can bolster this crucial role, facilitating monitoring and analysis processes to enhance the effectiveness of audit and tax inspections in the country. The research applied practical methods involving digital tools and technological solutions such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. These tools were used to identify risk patterns and anomalies in transaction data, demonstrating their real-world application and effectiveness. They enable fast and accurate analysis of large volumes of data, which is particularly important in the context of sophisticated money laundering schemes. The results of the study underscore the potential benefits of technological innovation in the field of financial audits. With the aid of digital technologies, supervisory authorities in Bulgaria stand to significantly enhance their ability to detect financial abuses, including money laundering and tax evasion. In conclusion, the study reiterates the pressing need for further integration of modern technological solutions in the practices of audit and tax services in Bulgaria. This integration is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of control mechanisms and the country's ability to respond to current and future challenges in the fight against crimes in the financial sphere, underscoring the urgency of this matter.

Muslim Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Meta-Ethnography of Global Evidence.

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a form of interpersonal violence perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviors. DVA is associated with severe physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for the victims. Muslim women, like women from all communities, experience DVA in its various forms, however, they may experience additional barriers when seeking support. This review was conducted using a meta-ethnography approach to synthesize published qualitative evidence on Muslim women's perspectives and experiences of DVA. A systematic search of global evidence in six electronic English databases including Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ASSIA identified a total of 33 qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of these studies revealed four major themes: the experience and impacts of abuse; risk factors contributing to abuse; help-seeking; and the coping strategies of Muslim women. These findings emphasize the importance of religion not only as a risk factor for violence and a barrier to help-seeking but also as a coping strategy for dealing with violence. The findings offer important insights for policymaking and in supporting these women more effectively.

Understanding street-exposure and abuse among street-involved children and youth in Kenya: structural intervention insights from routinely collected program data.

Street-involved children and youth (SICY) face significant challenges, including structural and social exclusion, and multiple forms of abuse. Global estimates indicate there are 10-15 million SICY worldwide, with over 250 000 in Kenya alone. There is limited understanding of the timing of these abuse experiences, which may inform interventional efforts. This study analysed relationships between the duration of street exposure, sleep location and experiences of abuse among formerly SICY (aged 6-19 years) in Kenya. Data were collected from participants in the Watoto wa Ahadi Rescue Center programme over a 6-year period (2016-2022). Abuse experiences were categorised into physical, emotional, economic and sexual abuse. Statistical analyses, including Lowess-curve plots and piecewise logit regression, were used to explore the relationships between street exposure duration, sleep location and reported abuse experiences. The sample consisted of 228 unique children, predominantly male, with a mean age of 13.2 years. Physical abuse (37%), emotional abuse (36%), economic abuse (28%) and any abuse (69%) were common, while sexual abuse (5.7%) was less frequently reported. The probability of experiencing abuse varied with the duration of street exposure, with significant increases observed for those on the street for 3 weeks or more. Sleeping under verandas was associated with higher odds of economic abuse and any type of abuse. Longer street exposure did not further increase the odds of physical, economic or any abuse beyond 10 months. Children and youth living on the streets experience high levels of abuse, underscoring the need for data-informed, trauma-informed approaches to support their reintegration. The findings highlight the importance of early intervention and tailored strategies that address the specific timing and types of abuse experienced by SICY. Policy and funding should focus on preventing street migration, providing alternative living locations and supporting long-term reintegration efforts to protect and empower SICY.

Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health

Women mental health and impact of psychosocial factors on it, is highlighted in various psychological & clinical studies, due to pandemic made it a matter of more focus. Studying the long-term impacts of the coronavirus on society, our mind, body and its analysis perhaps will take more time. Out of the total population, a number of people felt a disrupted sleep as a hallmark of the pandemic, and suffered from depression, insomnia, irritability, violence including domestic violence, distress, work pressure due to online culture of work, and other related negative mental health symptoms as idiosyncratic attributes especially in covid sufferers. Covid-19 pandemic has altered family dynamics. More screen time, unended & fluctuated routines, for working women dissolving boundaries in workplace and personal life altered & flicking habits, all impacted mental health adversely. The human brain is evolved to live in social groups & wired for social interactions, epidemiological studies conducted on covid survivors, convalescents & victims shows altered brain biochemistry due to various psychosocial factors including financial losses, social isolation, intimate partner’s negative mental state, discrimination, disrupted sleep & routines, etc. Pandemic might has altered the romantic and loving relationships, and adversity of such psychosocial factors impacted people. Psychological strengths and resilience mainly depend on social determinants like social support, social culture, respect, engagement at workplace, parenting style in childhood & emotional attachment, society & family bonds, self-regulation & behavior controlling, and collective efficacy, all these determinants are positively associated with self-esteem that have direct impact on enhancing psychological strengths. Population for the study as participants were females in early adulthood & studying, professional and housewives. For data analysis, the statistical tools, descriptive, co-relational and regression analysis is used. The study focuses on effect of adverse aspects of adversity like pandemics financial crises like job losses, allowances or salary deductions, led to economic abuses, and somewhere gender discrimination, sexual abuse, household workload, escalation in family members expectations and responsibilities, adverse impact of these psychosocial factors on women’s mental health and role of education, knowledge, skills, and aptitude i.e. abilities & cognitive competencies in coping and managing the adversities like pandemic.

Untold Stories of Displaced Rohingya Pregnant Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in Camp Settings

Intimate partner violence (IPV) strongly impacts the physical, sexual, social, and reproductive health of women, causing an array of psychological and behavioural problems. During pregnancy, the detrimental effects of violence extend to both the mother and the child. Rates of IPV are frequently higher among those in conflict‐affected and displaced communities, most of whom live in low and middle‐income countries. IPV against Rohingya women is common due to relocation, family breakups, patriarchal norms, and deep‐seated gender roles. Despite the high prevalence of IPV in Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the matter is often under‐examined. This qualitative study aims to explore and understand pregnant IPV victims’ unique experiences and hardships among the displaced population in a camp setting. A sample of six pregnant homemakers with no formal education was recruited from a healthcare service provider in Leda Camp 24, a remote camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Semi‐structured, in‐depth, face‐to‐face interviews were conducted. Participants reported diverse manifestations of IPV victimisation. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, pregnancy‐related consequences, and impact on mental health were commonly experienced by participants of this study. The current research investigates the recurrent abuse experienced by this demography, providing detailed narrative information beyond quantitative descriptions of IPV experiences. This article contributes to the existing knowledge on the intersection of IPV, pregnancy, and mental health among displaced populations. Governmental and non‐governmental stakeholders must contextualise these findings in policies and practices by integrating IPV and violence screening, prevention, and treatment protocols into refugee camps and healthcare service providers.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Croatian University Students

Aim: Intimate partner violence (IPV) among university student populations is an important public health challenge with persistent negative consequences. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of IPV among female Croatian university students and to investigate possible risk factors for its occurrence. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on a convenient sample of undergraduate and graduate female university students at the University of Osijek in April 2015. Results: The overall prevalence of all forms of IPV in the studied population was 64.3%. Physical violence was reported by 3.3%, psychological violence by 59.8%, controlling behavior or coercive control as a special form of psychological violence by 40.2%, sexual violence by 4.8%, and economic abuse by 9.6% of female students. Sexual violence and economic abuse were more frequent among graduate female students (p<0.001 and p=0.010, respectively). Female students who repeated the year of study were more frequently exposed to sexual violence (p=0.005). Overall IPV was more frequent among female students who studied within the field of humanities (p=0.045). Female students who studied within the field of humanities were more frequently exposed to physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence, and economic abuse (p<0.001, p=0.006, p<0.001, and p=0.033, respectively). Conclusion: IPV was highly prevalent among female Croatian university students and some sociodemographic and academic characteristics of those students seem to influence the observed prevalence of various IPV forms. Specific preventive programs adjusted to university settings are needed to successfully combat IPV in the studied population.

Economic abuse: Coercive debt of Arab-Palestinian women in Israel

This article focuses on coercive debt, a form of economic abuse inflicted on women belonging to an indigenous-national minority by their partners/ex-partners. Coercive debt isolates and controls women, making it difficult for them to build a life free of their abuser even after separation, and impeding their ability to meet basic needs, such as housing, employment and amenities. Through a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted in 2022 with Arab-Palestinian women in Israel, along with an analysis of several legal cases ( n = 21), we uncovered the mechanism, dynamics, and implications of economic abuse manifested as coercive debt from the women’s subjective perspective. Our findings were then examined against the backdrop of these women’s multiple positions of marginality, vulnerability, and civic exclusion due to their belonging to a minority group. This study enhances the understanding of the predicament faced by minority women in coercive debt, shedding light on the specific difficulties and barriers they encounter.

Postseparation Financial Abuse Perpetrated Through Government Systems: A Survey of Australian Mothers' Experiences of Child Support.

Financial abuse is a form of violence that can extend well beyond intimate partner relationship breakdown. A survey of 540 Australian separated parents examined how financial abuse was perpetrated, with a focus on child support and other government systems. Women reported that their ex-partners minimized and withheld child support payments to inflict direct financial harm, while interactions between the family court, taxation, and benefit payment systems were taken advantage of to threaten or control them. Findings revealed how the mandatory and complex Australian child support system provided perpetrators with a useful means of perpetrating financial abuse across households.

Determinants of non-physical intimate partner violence: A cross-sectional study with nationally representative data from Canada.

Based on a nationally representative survey of the Canadian population conducted in 2019/2020, this study examined the prevalence and determinants of non-physical Intimate partner violence (NP-IPV). NP-IPV was defined as experiences of emotional abuse, controlling behaviours, or economic abuse during the past five years. Women (17.3%) and men (16.9%) were equally likely to report NP-IPV, often without co-occurring physical/sexual IPV. For both genders, the risk of NP-IPV decreased with age, and increased with financial strain and having a disability. Childhood maltreatment (sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and exposure to emotional IPV for women, and sexual abuse and emotional abuse for men) was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting NP-IPV in adulthood. Other risk factors included heavy episodic drinking (self and/or spouse/partner) for women and living in a neighbourhood with high levels of social disorder for men. Having confidence in the police was a protective factor for both genders. These associations generally persisted in regression analyses controlling for co-occurring physical/sexual IPV. Future research should focus on methods of preventing NP-IPV and the development of gender-specific interventions to reach and support those who experience NP-IPV. Furthermore, there is a need to improve and standardize measures of NP-IPV.

Faith and Intimate Partner Violence in Rural South Africa

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of violence against women and is associated with risk factors at the individual, interpersonal and societal level. Women often resort to various coping mechanisms to manage their daily lives due to the complex nature by which these factors interact. We qualitatively interviewed a cohort of rural women participating in a microfinance “plus” program in South Africa where women received loans for small-scale business ventures and received training sessions on gender norms. Our findings detailed women’s experiences of IPV and the role of faith as a coping mechanism for navigating economic hardship and abuse. Belief in a higher power was predominant in almost every interview, offering a sense of purpose and optimism for the future amid precarious circumstances. Interventions for violence prevention need to consider the important role that faith can play in strengthening women’s sense of self and preventing IPV.

Elder abuse risk factors: the interactive effect of cognition and functionality

PurposeRisk assessment in elder abuse is usually considered an additive process; risk factors are viewed as independent, and the higher the number of risk factors, the higher the risk. This study aims to explore the effect of the interaction between cognitive structures (episodic memory, perceptual speed, verbal fluency, executive function) and functional dependency on elder abuse.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data from 62 participants, aged between 64 and 94 years old, in the Minho region of Portugal. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to apply the assessment procedures.FindingsResults showed that emotional abuse is predicted by episodic memory and phonemic fluency, financial abuse by perceptual speed and phonemic fluency and neglect by perceptual speed. Moderation analysis showed that these effects were greater for older adults with higher dependence on movement and lower dependence on hygiene and daily organization. This study supports the hypothesis that the risk of elder abuse is interactive, highlighting a limitation of current risk assessment procedures.Originality/valueThe current study explores the possibility of risk factors for elder abuse interacting. Understanding how risk factors interact can help to design more accurate measures of the risk of elder abuse.

Can Street-Level Bureaucrats Assist with Material Resources? Naming, Trivializing and Privatizing Economic Abuse in Israel

ABSTRACT Street Level Bureaucrats’ (SLBs) contribution to social inequality was proposed to be best assessed by combining three analytical approaches: Discretion, Positioning, and Reproduction. Such a triple analytical framework may be required for understanding SLBs’ responses to Economic Abuse (EA) in Israel where formal law has not addressed EA while the prevalent welfare orientation denies the material resources required in responding to EA. Applying the triple framework in analyzing fifty-three interviews conducted with Israeli SLBs operating in state welfare organizations reveals the extent to which each analytical component is open for SLBs’ moral entrepreneurship, generating a sense of appropriate professional treatment. It develops a critical discussion of the conditions under which applying the triple framework of discretion, positioning, and reproduction is conducive.

Prevalence of Elder Abuse Among Shiraz Education Retirees: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of elder abuse and its related factors among retirees of the Department of Education. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting(s): The current study was conducted in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, Iran. Participants: A sample of 280 (157 females and 123 males) community-dwelling older adults aged≥60 were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Outcome measures: The data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and the Domestic Elder Abuse Questionnaire (DEAQ). Demographic characteristics, including age, gender, marital status, living arrangement, household size, number of children, disease and its type, health status, education level, income, and house ownership, were examined to evaluate their impact on elder abuse. In addition, the prevalence of elder abuse and its subscales (i.e., emotional neglect, care neglect, financial neglect, curtailment of personal autonomy, psychological abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, and abandonment) was also measured. Results: Approximately 40% of participants underwent at least one type of abuse. Financial abuse (32%) and physical abuse (3.9%) were reported as the most and least frequent types of abuse, respectively. Moreover, there was a statistically significant relationship between some demographic variables (e.g., age, presence of disease, duration of disease, health status, and income level) and the total abuse index. Additionally, some variables had statistically significant relationships with various subscales of abuse. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to develop efficient policies to prevent elder abuse. Further research is thus recommended to determine influencing factors and appropriate interventions.

Exploring the Role of Women in Gender-Based Violence: Deconstructing the One-sided Narrative in Bityi, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The study addresses the critical and pervasive issue of gender-based violence (GBV), a universal human rights violation affecting individuals across the globe, irrespective of cultural, socioeconomic, or religious backgrounds. While GBV predominantly impacts women, this research sought to highlight the often-overlooked fact that men can also be victims, challenging the one-sided narrative that typically surrounds this issue. Conducted in Bhityi, Eastern Cape, South Africa, the study employed a qualitative approach, collecting data from 12 participants through semi-structured interviews. The study was framed by the Person-In-Environment theory and aimed to understand the role of women in perpetrating GBV against men. The findings revealed that men experience various forms of GBV at the hands of women, including emotional, physical, verbal, financial, and sexual abuse. However, such incidents are rarely reported, attributed to cultural norms, the fear of secondary victimisation, and a lack of support and protection for male victims. To address this gap, the study recommended the development of programs to raise awareness about male victimisation and to foster open dialogue among men about their experiences with GBV. This research contributes significantly to the field of social work by offering insights into the experiences of male victims of GBV, thereby enriching the body of knowledge with a largely absent perspective. It informs officials and practitioners about enhanced intervention skills and strategies and influences legislators to develop policies that protect the rights of both women and men. By acknowledging men as victims, the study not only challenges the prevailing narrative about GBV but also provides a platform for male victims to seek help and support, adding depth and nuance to societal understanding of GBV. Keywords: Human Rights, Gender-based violence, Gender-bias, the role of women in gender-based violence, Person-In-Environment theory

The Dynamics of Abusive Relationships

Abstract Domestic abuse encompasses a range of damaging behaviors beyond physical violence, including economic and emotional abuse. We analyze the impact of cohabiting with an abusive partner on victims’ economic outcomes. In so doing, we highlight the systematic role of economic suppression in such relationships. Using Finnish administrative data and a matched-control event-study design, along with a within-individual comparison of outcomes across relationships, we document three new facts. First, women who begin relationships with (eventually) physically abusive men suffer large and significant earnings and employment falls immediately upon cohabiting with the abusive partner. Second, the decline in economic outcomes is non-monotonic in women’s pre-cohabitation outside options. Third, men who are violent against women in any capacity impose economic costs on all their female partners, even those who do not report physical violence. To rationalize these findings, we develop a new dynamic model of abusive relationships where women do not perfectly observe their partner’s type, and abusive men have an incentive to use economic suppression to sabotage women’s outside options and their ability to later exit the relationship.

Perinatal Economic Abuse: Experiences, Impacts, and Needed Resources.

Introduction: Economic abuse is one form of intimate partner violence (IPV) intended to control a survivor's ability to make, save, or spend money to gain power over them. Perinatal people may be more vulnerable to economic abuse due to changes in employment and finances. This study's aims were to explore how economic abuse manifests among pregnant and parenting survivors and how best to support pregnant and parenting survivors of economic abuse. Methods: We conducted virtual semistructured interviews with IPV survivors and IPV advocates. Participants were recruited through an online recruitment registry, national IPV organizations, and local domestic violence agencies. Interview audiorecordings were transcribed. We used a deductive-inductive thematic analysis approach. Two research team members individually coded each transcript and met to resolve discrepancies in coding. Results: We completed interviews with 18 advocates and 20 survivors. Participants described experiences of financial control, exploitation, and employment sabotage. Partners leveraged the criminal-legal, child welfare, and health care systems and cultural norms about pregnancy, including those related to gender and religion to financially harm survivors. Advocates described how economic abuse impacts marginalized survivors. Dream resources described include cash assistance, healthy relationship and financial education, and employer policies. Discussion: Survivors and advocates reported a variety of experiences with economic abuse during the perinatal period. Future interventions should focus on providing unrestricted cash transfers to survivors, developing education on economic abuse, and creating supportive policies in health care and employment settings. This study highlights the ways that economic abuse specifically impacts perinatal survivors and their children.

Why cartel participation leads to financial statement fraud and market abuse

ABSTRACT In an attempt to hide from the competition authorities colluding firms risk committing financial statement fraud and market abuse. When colluding managers set the conditions for their cartel the resulting increase in profitability and ability to pay outstanding debt enables the firms to attract more investors, get access to larger loans and at a lower interest rate. The natural reluctance to disclose the firm’s cartel participation creates financial reports with misleading content, increases the likelihood of insider dealing and the ability to attract more funds diverts needed capital from otherwise more eligible firms and will endanger the integrity and efficient functioning of the financial markets. The conclusion is that firms and individuals involved in cartel offences should be investigated for financial statement fraud and market abuse although when persons may be subject to criminal sanctions it will decrease the attractiveness for individuals to use the leniency framework.