Facts About Domestic Violence
Most mentally ill people are not violent.
In the general population, men show much higher rates of violent offenses than women. Males and females with mental disorders do not significantly differ in their base rates of violent behavior - and violent behavior, when seen, is usually during an acute episode.
- Summary of Risk Factors for Violence -- generalizations:
- Age: late teens and early 20s.
- Sex: males greater than females unless mentally ill
- IQ: lower IQ, higher rate of street violence
- Social Class: lower the social class, more street violence
- Substance abuse, juvenile gang membership, available guns, lower education, employment and residential instability are associated with a higher rate of violence
Domestic violence is found in all age groups, all socioeconomic classes, all ethnic and religious categories, and occurs in same-sex as well as heterosexual relationships.
Historically, women have been the victims in up to 95% in cases of spousal abuse. At least 3 million women are beaten in their homes each year. Pregnancy and anticipated separation are two of the more vulnerable time periods for domestic violence to occur.
Female victims of adult abuse are up to two times more likely than non-victims to abuse street drugs and/or alcohol.
Nearly half of female murder victims are killed by a current or previous male partner.
Most women victims of domestic violence are not likely to disclose the source of their injuries to medical personnel unless asked directly - and even then, domestic abuse is significantly underreported.
One in 10 men and one in 5 women in the United States have reported experiencing sexual abuse, usually at the hands of family members.
Over 2 million older adults are mistreated each year in the United States.
Physicians must report suspected child abuse in most states. Domestic violence statutes require limited, if any, reporting of other types of domestic abuse.
Metropolitan police departments give immediate response priority to a crime in progress Lower priority is given to a report of a past crime.