Statistics

Domestic Violence is the #1 health problem for American Women (AMA)
American businesses lose in excess of $100 million per year in sick leave, lost wages, and medical expenses for abused women under their employee
Absenteeism is 25% higher among women who are abused
More women are victims of Domestic Violence than burglary, mugging, and all other physical crimes combined
Yearly, 13,000 incidents of domestic violence occur at the victim's workplace
1-in-3 women experience domestic violence
50% of men who perpetrate domestic violence also abuse their children
Women attempting to leave an abusive relationship increase their chance of bodily injury or death by 75%
84% of those victimized by domestic violence are female
Domestic violence occurs in same gender relationships at the same frequency as opposite gender relationships
Permanent Protection orders deter violence in 85% of domestic violence cases
A woman will attempt to leave the battering relationship an average of seven (7) times before succeeding
According to a study by A. Farmer and J. Tiefenthaler entitled, "Explaining the Recent Decline in Domestic Violence," from the April, 2003 issue of Contemporary Economic Policy, the number one indicator of whether a woman will leave an abusive relationship is "legal advocacy."
Approximately 45% of abused women report the abuse to law enforcement
73% of women who disclose abuse feel they are actually believed
Only 45% of women who disclose abuse feel the extent of the abuse is understood
Only 23% of women feel that people are comfortable discussing domestic violence
In Colorado during the period of January 2000 through October 2005, 121 Colorado women were killed at the hands of their abusers
15 Children died as the result of these violent episodes
19 killed were co-workers, bystanders or law enforcement personnel
68% of abusers who killed also committed suicide

Dating Abuse

Sources: Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, Journal of the American Medical Association, Department of Justice and the California Women's Law Center

1 in 5 teen girls reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner
Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of domestic violence
30 percent of all teenage girls who are killed are killed by a current or former boyfriend
Abused teens are four to six times more likely to become pregnant

Early Warning Signs of Dating Abuse

Jealousy and possessiveness
A controlling attitude by partner
Alcohol and drug use
Explosive anger
Blaming and justifying
Lying
Gender-stereotypical beliefs
Isolation
Any use of force

Papers and Reports

Please click here to download When Domestic Violence Kills-a collaboration funded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Violence Against Women Office (VAWO) (in Adobe Acrobat format). The file is available in Adobe Acrobat format, which can be easily downloaded (free) from www.adobe.com.

Also, the Project Safeguard Fatality Review Committee, in conjunction with the Child Fatality Review Committee-which provides a service to the children and families of Denver by providing a means to improve communications among law enforcement and service providers-have compiled the following report. Click here to download a copy of The Childrens' Fatality Review Report.