Statistics: What are the Numbers?

Before truly being able to understand how prevalent domestic violence is, one must be able to find meaning with the numbers behind it. There are, of course, wide arrays of statistics throughout the United States on this subject. Let us first focus on those and then we can narrow in on Utah’s statistics. These statistics are according to www.domesticviolencestatistics.org.

Every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted or beaten in the U.S, one of the days where this activity occurs most is the day of the Super Bowl.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women. This equates to be more than the numbers of car accidents, rapes and muggings combined.

Up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence in their lifetime annually.

In the U.S. alone, the cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion per year.  Breaking this number down, $4.1 billion is for medical costs and health care services, while the remaining $1.8 billion accounts for productivity losses.

Lastly, men who witnessed this type of violence or something like it as children are twice as likely to continue to same behavior on their own families when that time comes.

Now let us break down these numbers and look at only Utah. The most recent data will be from 2012, as 2013’s numbers have not been broken down yet. These numbers are derived from http://nomoresecrets.utah.gov.

More than 3,113 men, women and children entered shelters to escape some form of domestic violence.

The total numbers committed by family members decreased slightly from those of 2009.

Of these offenses, 19 percent were committed by a spouse and 30 percent were committed by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Since 2000, domestic violence related homicides accounted for 39.8 percent of all adult homicides.

There has been an increase in the length of stay and the number of days in shelters.

And lastly, in incidents where a weapon is used, 87 percent of those weapons were categorized as personal weapons. This would indicate that hands and/or feet were used.

These statistics are harrowing, and the biggest thing that can be done to improve them is to get the word out. Please help us in spreading the word that when victimized, domestic violence is something that is not to be ashamed.