Approximately 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women.
Statistics, National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, Ruth Peachey, M.D. 1988.
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States; more then car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
"Violence Against Women, A Majority Staff Report," Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 102nd Congress, October 1992, p. 3
About 1 out of 4 women are likely to be abused by a partner in her lifetime.
Sara Glazer, "Violence Against Women" CQ Researcher, Congressional Quarterly, Inc., Volume 3, Number 8, February, 1993, p. 171
One women is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States
Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991.
One out of 4 women who attempt suicide are battered.
"Battered Families... Shattered Lives," Georgia Department of Human Resources. Family Violence Teleconference Resource Manual, January 1992.
Three to four million women in the United States are beaten in their homes each year by their husbands, ex-husbands or male lovers.
"Women and Violence," Hearings before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, August 29 and December 11, 1990, Senate Hearing 101-939, pt. 1, p. 12.
Domestic violence ranks as one of the nations most expensive health problems.
American Medical News, American Medical Association 1992.
According to one study, family violence alone may cost the country as much as $5 to $10 billion every year in health care and associated costs.
"The Response to Rape: Detours on the Road to Equal Justice." Committee on the Judiciary, United States senate. May 1993.
Women of all cultures, races, occupations, income levels and ages are battered by husbands, boyfriends, lovers and partners.
For Shelter and Beyond, Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women Service Groups, Boston, MA 1990.
Police reports that between 40% and 60% of the calls they receive, especially on the night shift, are domestic disputes.
Carrillo, Roxanna "Violence Against Women: An Obstacle to Development" Human Development Report, 1990.
In murders of persons under age 12, the victims' parents accounted for 57% of the murderers. Eleven percent of all victims age 60 or older were killed by a son or daughter.
"Murder in Families," Victims' Hotline, Fall 1994.
Fifty percent of all homeless women and children in this country are fleeing domestic violence.
Senator Joseph Biden, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Violence Against Women Victims of the System, 1991.
It is estimated there are approximately 500,000 gay male victims and a similarly alarming number of lesbian victims of domestic violence annually.
"Myths About Lesbin and Gay Domestic Violence". David Island and Patrick Letellier 1991.
A recent survey of corporate security directors revealed that more than 90% of those surveyed had seen at least three cases of men stalking women employees. Domestic Violence was rated as a "high" security problem.
Family Violence Prevention Fund, Fall/Winter 1994.
Forty percent of assaults on women by their male partners begin during the first pregnancy, pregnant women are at twice the risk of battery than non-pregnant women. Fifteen to 25% of pregnant women are battered. As a result, these women are 4 times more likely to bear infants of low birth weight and have an increased risk of miscarriage or injury to the child.
Martin, S.R., Holsapfels, S. and Baker, P. (1992). Wife Abuse: Are We Detecting It? Journal of Women's Health 1(1), 77-80 Evan Stark and Anne Flitcraft, 1992, U.S. Senate, Committee on the Judiciary (August 29 and December 11, 1990). Hearings on Women and Violence," Ten Facts About Violence Against Women" p. 78.
Half of female homicide and manslaughter victims were killed by male partners. Women serving a sentence for a violent offense were about twice as likely as their male counterparts to have committed their offense against someone close to them (36% versus 16%). Women charged in the death of a mate have the least extensive criminal records of any female offenders.
"Battered Families.....Shattered Lives", Georgia Department of Human Resources. Family Violence Teleconference Resource Manual, January 1992, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, Survey of State Prison Inmates, 1991. "Women's Rights as Human Rights: Toward a Re-vision of Human Rights" Schneier, E. M. and Jordan, S.B. (1981). Women's self-defense Cases: Theory and Practice, Charlottesville, VA: The Michie Company Law Publishers.
Domestic Violence is not only physical and sexual violence but also psychological. Psychological violence means intense and repetitive degradation, creating isolation, and controlling the actions or behaviors of the spouse through intimidation or manipulation to the detriment of the individual.
"Five Year State Master Plan for the Prevention of and Service for Domestic Violence." Utah State Department of Human Services, January 1994.
Domestic Violence: Ideas and Information
American Prosecutors Research Institute
