Domestic Violence

Domestic violence encompasses all acts of violence against women within the context of family or intimate relationships. It is an issue of increasing concern because it has a negative effect on all family members, especially children. Domestic violence is not confined to any one socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, racial, or age group.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States, where they are more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than by any other type of assailant. Statistics show that 29 percent of all violence against women by a single offender is committed by an intimate, a husband, ex-husband, boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend.

Accurate information on the extent of domestic violence is difficult to obtain because of extensive under- reporting. However, it is estimated that as many as four million instances of domestic abuse against women occur annually in the U.S.

Source: ACF