The Problem > Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence constitutes the willful intimidation, assault, battery, sexual assault or other abusive behavior perpetrated by one family member, household member, or intimate partner against another. In most state laws addressing domestic violence, the relationship necessary for a charge of domestic assault or abuse generally includes a spouse, former spouse, persons currently residing together or those that have within the previous year, or persons who share a common child. In addition, as of 1997, a significant number of states have included dating relationships in their statutory definitions of domestic relationships.

• The average yearly loss to female victims of intimate violence in medical expenses is $61,000,000; when broken or stolen property and lost pay is added to the figure it increases to $150,000,000 (Greenfield et al, 1998); when indirect costs are included, such as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life, another $65,000,000 annually would need to added (Miller, et al, 1996).
• Nearly 1 in 4 American women between the ages of 18 and 65 has experienced domestic violence (Body Shop, 1998).
• In 1996, there were nearly 1,000,000 female victims and approximately 150,000 male victims of intimate violence (Greenfield, et al, 1998).
• In 48% of all violent victimizations during 1996, the victim knew the offender (Ringel, 1997).

Verbal or emotional abuse

includes name-calling, threats, screaming, yelling, ridiculing, criticizing, emotional blackmailing, and stalking

Sexual abuse

includes verbal sexual abuse such as sexual slurs or attacks on the victim's gender or sexual orientation, unwanted sexual touching and kissing, intimidation to force the victim to engage in any kind of sexual activity, and rape

Physical abuse

includes shoving, punching, slapping, pinching, hitting, kicking, hair pulling, choking, use of a weapon, and any other acts causing physical harm

Source: http://www.ncvc.org

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