Facts & Figures

Domestic violence is emotional abuse or violent behaviors an intimate partner or family member uses against another person to maintain control over the relationship (Domesticviolence.org, 2009). Domestic violence accounts for 21% of violent crimes and 76% of the victims are female and 21% of the victims are male (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2014). Domestic violence is committed most often by current or former boyfriends or girlfriends (BJS, 2014). There is a high rate of injury in victims of domestic violence and injuries occur 45% of the time (BJS, 2014). Injuries are more likely when victims are experiencing intimate partner violence and the associated injuries are more likely to be severe (BJS, 2014). Unfortunately only about one-half (55%) of domestic violence incidents are reported to the police and 77% of the time the victimization occurred in their own home (BJS, 2014). In 2010 39% of the 3,032 female homicide victims were murdered by an intimate partner (BJS, 2013).

Domestic violence can result in adverse health conditions such as chronic headaches, chronic pain, trouble sleeping, decreased activity, and poor physical and mental health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The costs of domestic violence are tremendous. Intimate partner rape, physical assault, and stalking alone cost $5.8 billion a year with $4.1 billion consisting of direct medical and health services (National Center for Injury Prevention, 2003). Thus, domestic violence is prevalent and costly to society

References

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2013). Intimate partner violence: Attributes of victimization, 1993-2011. Retrieved from http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/ipvav9311pr.cfm

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2014). Nonfatal domestic violence, 2003–2012. Retrieved from http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4984

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). NISVS summary reports. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/summary_reports.html

Domesticviolence.org. (2009). Definition. Retrieved from http://www.domesticviolence.org/definition/

National Center for Injury Prevention. (2003). Costs of intimate partner violence against women in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/ipv_cost.html