Statistics

According to a 2011 report from the Center for Disease Control, “More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.” (1)

 

Arkansas statistics
 

• According to the survey by the CDC, an estimated 420,000 women and 375,000 men in Arkansas have been victims of physical abuse, rape, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. This means that 36% of the adults (18 years and older) in Arkansas have been victims of IPV during their lifetimes. ( Center for Disease Control. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. 2010 Summary Report  )

• In 2012, Arkansas ranked 17th in the nation in female deaths caused by males with a rate of 1.33 homicides per 1,000 females. In 2008, Arkansas was ranked 7th. Sixty-two percent of the 2008 homicides were from gunshot wounds. ( When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2012 Homicide Data . Violence Policy Center.  )

• The National Network to End Domestic Violence  conducts a census every year of local domestic violence programs to gauge the extent of their services. In 2013, 26 domestic violence programs in Arkansas responded to the census. On September 17, 2013:
   

   

  • 514 adult and child victims received services in Arkansas. Some sought safety in a shelter, participated in transitional housing programs, received legal advocacy, or attended counseling or support groups.

  • 150 hotline calls were answered during the 24 hour period, averaging 6 calls per hour.

  • 318 community members attended trainings offered by the programs.

  • During the day, the programs were unable to provide services (shelter and nonresidential services) to 29 victims because of a lack of funding and resources.

  • In the year leading up to the census, Arkansas lost 17 staff positions across the state due to reduced funding.

Trends in national statistics
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics released a new report looking at intimate partner violence (IPV) and familial violence trends covering the past ten years worth of data from the National Crime Victimization Survey. The survey is conducted annually with persons 12 years and older.

• The combined definition of domestic violence (IPV and familial violence) accounts for 21% of all violent crimes during this time. IPV comprised 15% of that amount, while 4% was immediate family members and another 2% were other relatives. This is an average total of 1.4 million people victimized by domestic violence a year.

• Though females are typically the victims of domestic violence, it is not solely a women’s issue. The survey showed that about a quarter (26%) of the victims of domestic violence were male. However, females are still the predominant victim of IPV– the rate is over 3 times that of males.

• The rate of IPV had declined drastically from 1994-2003 going from 9.8 per 1,000 people to 4.2 per 1,000. However, the rate has been stagnant since then, maintaining a rate of roughly 4 per 1,000.

• Current or former boyfriends or girlfriends committed the most domestic violence. Domestic violence perpetrated by intimate partners, including current and former spouses and current and former boyfriends/girlfriends resulted in more serious injuries than familial violence. Only about 37% of those injured through domestic violence sought treatment– about half of them went to a hospital or doctor’s office.

• People between the ages of 18 and 34 had the highest rate of domestic violence by an intimate partner.

• Approximately one-fifth of the incidents of domestic violence involved a weapon. On average, about 184,800 intimate partner violent victimizations, 53,800 immediate family victimizations, and about 41,800 victimizations by other relatives involved a weapon annually.

• Sadly, only slightly over half (56%) of the incidents of domestic violence were reported to police. The rate of reports is about the same for serious violent crimes as it is for simple assaults.

The full report can be found on the Bureau of Justice Statistics website at http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ndv0312.pdf.