IMMEDIATE RELEASE AT 9:00 A.M. EST |
Bureau of
Justice Statistics |
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2006 |
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs |
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Contact:
Stu Smith 202/307-0784 |
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After hours: 301-983-9354 |
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE DECLINED
BETWEEN 1993 AND 2004
Washington -- The intimate partner violence rate has declined since
1993, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS) announced today. In 1993 nonfatal intimate
partner violence was 5.8 victimizations per 1,000 U.S. residents 12
years old and older. By 2004 this rate had fallen to 2.6
victimizations per 1,000 individuals.
An intimate partner is a current or former spouse, boyfriend,
girlfriend or same-sex partner. Violence between intimates
includes homicides, rapes, robberies and assaults committed by
partners. During 2004 there were approximately 627,400
nonfatal intimate partner victimizations –– 475,900 against females
and 151,500 against males. Approximately one-third of these
offenses were serious violent crimes –– rapes, sexual assaults,
robberies and aggravated assaults –– and involved either serious
injuries, weapons or sexual offenses.
Long term trends in nonfatal intimate partner violence differ by
gender. Non-fatal intimate partner victimization for females
was about four victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 and older in
2004, down from about 10 in 1993. Non-fatal intimate partner
violence for males remained relatively stable –– 1.6 victimizations
per 1,000 males 12 years old and older in 1993, compared to 1.3 per
1,000 in 2004.
The number of intimate partner homicide victims has declined since
1993, with greater declines seen for male victims. During 1993, the
number of females murdered by intimates was 1,571, compared to 1,159
during 2004 –– a 26 percent decline. The number of males
murdered by partners during 1993 was 698, compared to 385 –– a 45
percent decline.
Overall intimate partner violence during 2004 remained
unchanged from 2003, although some demographic groups experienced an
increase. During that period the rate of non-fatal intimate
partner violence among black females increased from 3.8 to 6.6
victimizations per 1,000 females aged 12 and older. Non-fatal
intimate partner violence for white males increased from 0.5 to 1.1
victimizations per 1,000 males age 12 and older.
Between 1993 and 2004, non-fatal intimate partner victimizations
represented 22 percent of violent victimizations against females and
3 percent of those against males aged 12 and older. Females and
males who were separated or divorced reported the highest rates of
nonfatal partner violence, whereas those who were married or widowed
reported the lowest rates of such violence.
The average annual rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence from
1993 to 2004 was highest for American Indian and Alaskan Native
females at 18.2 victimizations per 1,000 females aged 12 and
older. The risks also varied by age group. Females 20 to 24
years old were at the highest risk of nonfatal intimate partner
violence. Asian males, white males and the elderly reported
the lowest rates of partner violence.
For non-fatal intimate partner violence, as for violent crime in
general, simple assault is the most common type of violent crime.
Simple assault is an attack without a weapon that results either in
no injury or a minor injury. One-third of female victims of
non-fatal intimate partner violence between 1993 and 2004 reported
that the offender was under the influence of alcohol during the
victimization. One-fifth of male victims reported that the
offender was under the influence of alcohol. Both male and
female victims reported that their attacker was under the influence
of drugs in about 6 percent of all victimizations.
Overall, 21 percent of female victims and 10 percent of male victims
contacted an outside agency for assistance. Female victims
were more likely to contact a government agency than a private
agency. Male victims were equally likely to contact a government or
private agency for assistance.
The webpage report, Intimate Partner Violence in the United
States was written by BJS statistician Shannan Catalano.
It can be found on the Internet at
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/intimate/ipv.htm.
For additional information about the Bureau of Justice Statistics
statistical reports programs, please visit the BJS Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides federal leadership in
developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime,
administer justice and assist victims. OJP is headed by an Assistant
Attorney General and comprises five component bureaus and an office:
the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics;
the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime, as
well as the Community Capacity Development Office, which
incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy and OJP's American Indian
and Alaska Native Affairs Desk. More information can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.
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