4 Million Women Victims of Domestic Violence Annually

A report issued in 1998 shows that 4 million women will become victims of domestic violence a year in America.

The report, entitled "Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends and Girlfriends, U.S. Department of Justice, March, 1998", has some startling figures. There are a reported 960,000 violent incidents each year; of course, this figure is expected to be much higher as many cases do go unreported.

Although women are less likely to become victims of violent crimes overall, they are 5 to 8 times more likely to become victims of domestic violence at the hands of an intimate partner. For women, this amounts to 21 percent; just 2 percent of men will be victimized by an intimate each year. Between the years 1976-1996, 31,250 women were murdered by an intimate partner.

In 1994 women comprised 39% of hospital emergency room visits for injuries due to violence; they accounted for 84% of people taken to the ER for injuries caused by intimates.

Are you the victim of domestic violence? Call a family law attorney now to discuss your legal options.