National Statistics

A.     Domestic Violence Statistics, General

Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. (Heise, L., Ellsberg, M. and Gottemoeller, M. Ending Violence Against Women.  Population Reports, Series L, No. 11., December 1999)

As many as 4 million women each year are assaulted by a partner. Time, July 4, 1994

Intimate partner violence is primarily a crime against women.  In 2001, women accounted for 85% of the victims of intimate partner violence (588,490 total) and men accounted for approximately 15% of the victims (103,220) (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003)

It is estimated that 1 out of every 4 men will use violence against a partner in his lifetime. U.S. Department of Justice 1990 survey

More than two-thirds (2/3) of violent offenses against women are committed by someone known to the victim. 1994 Department of Justice study by Ronet Bachman, Ph.D.

American Medical Association’s Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines for Domestic  Violence indicate that battered women account for 25% to 35% of all women       seeking care for any reason in hospital emergency rooms.

Of the 1.4 million people treated for nonfatal injuries stemming from willful or      suspected intentional acts of violence in 1994, almost half were injured by someone      they knew. And about 243,000, or 17%, were treated for injuries inflicted by        someone with whom they had had an intimate relationship - a spouse, former spouse or current or former boyfriend or girlfriend, which is four times more than previously estimated through police statistics. Justice Department, Bureau of Justice Statistics

B.     Domestic Violence and Pregnancy

Approximately 17% of pregnant women report having been battered, and the results include miscarriages, still births and a two to four times greater likelihood of bearing a low birth weight baby. (McFarlane, Judith, et. al., "Assessing for Abuse During Pregnancy)

Pregnant women are at twice the risk of battery by a partner. National Clearing House for Defense of Battered Women.

C.     Domestic Violence and Homicide

On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day.  In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner.  The same year 440 men were killed by an intimate partner. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003)

Women are much more likely than men to be killed by an intimate partner.  In 2000, intimate partner homicides accounted for 33.5% of the murders of women and less than 4% of the murders of men. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003)

More than five times as many women are murdered by an intimate acquaintance (605) than by a stranger (113) in the year 2000.  (www.vpc.org/press/0010dv.htm)

D. Criminal Justice System Responses to Domestic Violence

Average prison sentence of men who kill female partners is 2 to 6 years. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Average prison sentence of women who kill male partners is 15 years (despite the fact that significantly higher rate of women that kill claimed to do so in self-defense).  National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Estimated that 90% of all family violence suspects are never prosecuted. U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer 1993 statement.

Estimated that 1 out of 3 domestic violence cases that would be considered felonies if committed by strangers are filed as misdemeanors. Sen. Boxer’s 1993 statement.

Police are more likely to respond within 5 minutes of a violence call if the offender was a stranger than if the offender was known to a female victim.  Bachman 1994 study.

1500 shelters for battered women in the United States. 3800 animal shelters.       Department of Justice 1990 study.