‚ Every 9 seconds a woman is battered in the U.S. by her husband, boyfriend or live-in partner (FBI Uniform crime reports).

à  More than 6 million women each year are battered by a male partner.  Of these, 2 million are severely assaulted. (National Victim Center, 1995)  The FBI records about 1800 murders of women by husbands or Boy friends and 500,000 rapes a year in 1992 and 1993.  More than 75% of these violent acts were committed by someone known to the victim, and 29 % were reported to be by intimate partners. The FBI estimates that for every reported case, ten go unreported.

‚ Domestic Violence costs more than $67 billion per year in property damage and loss, medical costs, resulting mental health care, police and fire services, victim services and lost worker productivity. (Miller et al, National Institutes of Justice, 1996)

‚ Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 to 44, more common than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined (Surgeon General of the United States, 1992).  50% of all homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence (U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1991).

‚ 90% of all reported domestic assaults are committed by men against women.  The remaining 10% consists  of battering among same-sex partners or of women battering men. (Bureau of Justice statistics, 1994).

‚ 75% of domestic homicides occur when the victim is leaving the perpetrator. (National Clearinghouse for The Defense of Battered Women).  52% of women murdered each year are killed by a current or former partner (FBI reports).

‚ Domestic violence covers all demographic and socioeconomic boundaries and is a societal problem costly to every citizen.  Women of all cultures, races, occupations, income levels and ages are battered by husbands, boy friends, lovers and partners (Boston: Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women Service Groups, 1990).

‚  Battered women account for up to 35% of visits to hospital emergency rooms, 25% of female suicides, 25% of women seeking emergency psychiatric help and 58% of women over 30 years old who have been raped. (American Medical Association)

‚ One in three women will be battered by a partner during her lifetime, yet only 8% of these women will tell a doctor (American Medical Association).

‚  24 to 37% of all pregnant women are battered.  One in four pregnant women have a history of partner violence.  Battered women miscarry twice as often as non-battered women.  (American Medical Association, March of Dimes, 1996.)

‚   Every year, domestic violence causes approximately 300,000 hospitalizations, 28,700 emergency room visits and 39,900 physician visits.   Cost to the nation totals more than $10 billion per year. (National Victim Center, 1995)

‚  A major study of children at battered women's shelters found that 70% were victims of physical abuse or neglect; 30% were victims of sexual assault.  Over 60% of children of battered women are themselves abused  (Guide for Health Professionals, New Jersey Women's Division).

‚  63 % of the young men between the ages of 11 and 20 who are serving time for homicide have killed their mother's abuser (FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1993).  Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 60%, as an adult by 40% and for violent crime by 40% (National Institutes of Justice,

Several states have legislation recognizing that domestic violence should affect court decisions in regard to child custody and visitation.  (American Bar Association).  Tennessee passed a law in 1997 making it a rebuttable presumption that it is not in the best interest of the child to award custody to perpetrators of domestic violence.  This law is ignored in many Tennessee courtrooms.

€ 52% of women murdered each year are killed by a current or former partner (FBI reports).  

INDICATORS of ABUSE

*** ABUSERS DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANGER MANAGEMENT...THEY ARE VERY CONTROLLED!  They use many behaviors to control their victims.  If as many as three of the following are present, the potential for abuse is significant.

History of violence in the family of origin  (learned behavior).  Studies indicate that 80 percent of males who observe abuse in their family of origin become abusers as adolescents and/or adults.  Odds for arrest as juveniles or for a violent crime are increased by 40 to 50 percent.

History of cruelty to children and/or animals. Uses children to manipulate, intimidate. Threatens victim with loss of children if she tries to leave him.

Women/children viewed as objects or property of males, rather than people.  Strong beliefs about male/female roles, what a man should do, what a woman should be.  May use victim/children as symbols of his success in the community.  Tells her how to dress, how to act, when she can be seen publicly.  She is his “hood ornament”.

Low self-esteem, self-confidence, feelings of helplessness/powerlessness (cup is always half empty, never half full).

Violence, force, restraint of victim used to give sense of power,  used to solve problems, resolve internal needs for power and control.

Quick temper, hostile outbursts, over-reacts to minor frustrations or problems, uses outbursts to control victim.

Destruction of property/pets.  A pounds table, punches holes in doors or walls, tears out facings, throws things, uses violent acts to obtain or maintain control.   Destroys cars, furniture or other objects, breaks windows, cuts up clothing or pictures, breaks victim's favorite things.  Threatens to injure or kill pets to coerce victim or children into submission.  Does not lack impulse control or have uncontrolled anger.  Behavior is very controlled, calculated and intentional to obtain control over the victim.

Rationalizes own behavior, never takes responsibility for own actions.  Blames victim for abuse.  “If you would just do what I tell you, I would not have to hurt you.”

Perceives self as being criticized.  Hypersensitive to comments, actions of others bordering on paranoia.

Abuses alcohol or other drugs. May force victim to engage in drug use or manufacture or sale of drugs.

Jealousy and possessiveness in regard to other men as well as family and friends.  Suspicious of infidelity in partner, accuses victim even without evidence.

Access to, possession of or preoccupation with weapons.  Often owns collections of guns, knives, bow & arrows, etc.

Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.  Public persona, often appears to be “family man”, community leader while private persona behind closed doors exposes cruel, manipulative, abusive characteristics.

Inconsistent/changing expectations of victim. (Double bind – victim cannot meet expectations no matter how hard she tries.

Uses verbal assault and intimidation to destroy victim’s self esteem and confidence.  “You are so fat and ugly, no one else will have you if you leave me.  You are the worst mother in the world.  Why don’t you learn how to cook?  How could you have done anything so stupid?”

Denies/minimizes abuse.  “Think about it.  You have it pretty good, a nice home and car.  If you leave me, or have me put in jail, you will lose all that.”

“Mind games” /  Mind control – makes victim think she is “crazy”. Tells victim, her friends and family that she is insane.  Brainwashes victim to make her believe abuse is her fault.

Is deeply invested in his victim, his ownership of her and his entitlements to her loyalty and services.

Forced sex, restraint, sexual assault used to dominate /control partner, destroy self esteem.

Fantasies of homicide/suicide.  May disclose fantasies and use as threats.  Projects fantasies of homicide/suicide to others.

Isolates victim from family and friends.  Controls telephone contact and visits.  Controls use of car or other transportation. Threatens to harm family or friends if she tries to leave.

Controls economic resources.  May deprive victim of needed medication, access to health care, necessities for herself and children, i.e., gives victim small amount to buy food and run household and expects to have more than she can buy with it.

Makes all the “big” decisions, i.e., where family will live, when to buy a house or car, when to have children. 

May use unwanted pregnancy, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, to control victim. Low birth weight babies, spontaneous abortion, birth defects more frequent in victims of abuse.

May take victim/children as hostages, threaten with weapons if he believes she is trying to leave. 

May use arson as a tool for manipulation to hold on to victim.  Sets fire to house, car or other item of special significance to victim.

Controls victim through non-verbals such as eye contact, ways of touching, appears affectionate on surface while delivering a painful pinch, punch, cut, or other injury.  Says, “I was only playing or joking”.

Imposes injuries such as strangulation, head injuries, bruises/lacerations, fractures.  Becomes skillful at imposing injuries with little surface visibility, i.e., severe internal injury with little bruising, marks on skin.

Manipulates other people and systems in community to build his public image as a “good” person, father, employee, etc.  Manipulates justice system., judges, attorneys, law enforcement.  Manipulates employers, education system, faith community, other family members to build his case as “good” person and victims as crazy, sick, bad, inept.

Increases risk-taking as victim comes closer to leaving. Insensitive, self-absorbed, narcissistic, sociopathic, little or no remorse for actions.  Feels that he has a “right” to do whatever it takes to maintain control over victim.  About 75 percent of homicides/suicides occur when victim is leaving the abusive relationship.