May 15 2013

May 14 2013

May 13 2013

Domestic abuse is a pattern of coercive, controlling behaviors that include, but are not limited to physical assaults, sexual assaults, emotional abuse, isolation, economic coercion, threats, stalking and intimidation. Domestic violence is rooted in a desire by the abuser to establish and maintain power and control over another. Abusive tactics can, and often do, include both criminal and non-criminal acts and are learned through observation, experience, culture and family. Domestic abuse is rarely an isolated event, and often occurs in a cycle, with non-violent periods where the abuser is apologetic and romantic. Domestic violence impacts not only those who are abused, but also witnesses, family members, co-workers, friends and the community at large. Abusers abuse because often there are few, if any, consequences for the behavior. Abusers abuse because they can.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS

• 1 in 4 women will be physically abused during their adult lives.
• An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.
• Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
• Men are the victims of nearly 3 million intimate partner related physical assaults.
• Witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.
• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
• 30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household.
• Almost one-third of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner.
• In 70-80% of intimate partner homicides, no matter which partner was killed, the man physically abused the woman before the murder.