CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Domestic Violence

Robin and Earl have been married for two years. Earl grew up in a home in which he was beaten by both parents. Although Earl sometimes can be very affectionate and charming, he also has periods of extreme anger. Earl regularly kicks the family’s dog and cat, and has struck Robin twice, leaving bruises. Earl tries to keep Robin from seeing her parents and sisters, and he recently has accused her of having affairs (which she is not). What laws and services are available to protect Robin?

In the United States in 2001, there were 691,710 reported acts of nonfatal domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence), according to the United States Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics. The acts of violence included assaults, rapes, and robberies. About 85 percent of the acts were against women and 15 percent were against men.

The Justice Department also reported that in 2000, 1,247 women were killed by intimate partners and 440 men were killed by intimate partners. Between 1993 and 2001, the rates of intimate violence dropped significantly – a 49 percent drop in violence against females and a 42 percent drop in violence against males. There was a similar decrease in the overall rate of violent crime during the same time period.

Domestic violence occurs in all socio-economic groups, but its  incidence correlates with income. Women with family income under $7,500 experienced the highest rates of violence – a rate which is approximately seven times higher than the rate for women with a family income over $75,000 (20 per 1000 versus 3 per 1000). In a related statistic, females residing in rental housing were three times more likely to be victims of domestic violence than females who resided in owned housing.

Black females experienced more domestic violence than white females (11 per 1000 versus 8 per 1000). The domestic violence rates between Hispanic persons and non-Hispanic persons were about the same. The highest rates of intimate violence are in the age range of 16 to 24.

Earlier Justice Department studies reported that one out of four incidents of domestic violence involved an offender who had been drinking, and of those offenders who were sent to prison, about half had been drinking for six or more hours before the violence occurred.

• Warning Signs for Domestic Violence
• State Laws
• Federal Law
• Where to Turn for Help