Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research: For Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Judges
Published June 2009
Chapter 1. Overview of Domestic Violence
Section 1 — How widespread is nonfatal domestic violence?
According to the latest 2005 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), during the period from 1993 to 2005, the average annual domestic violence rate per 1,000 persons (age 12 or older) for intimate partners and/or relatives was 5.9 for females and 2.1 for males. About one-third of the victims reported they were physically attacked; two-thirds were threatened with attack or death. A little more than half (50.5 percent) of the female victims suffered an injury, but only 4.5 percent were seriously injured. Slightly more than 3 percent were sexually assaulted. Fewer male victims — 41.5 percent — reported injuries, of which less than 5 percent were serious injuries. Those males or females who were separated (or divorced) experienced more nonfatal domestic violence than those who were together. [27]
Victimization rates vary among different subpopulations. The highest reported rates are for Native American women. [154]
Chapter 1 — Table of Contents
1-2 — What percentage of calls to police are to report domestic violence?
