Battering
is the single major cause of injury to women, more frequent than auto
accidents, muggings and rapes combined (Evan Stark).
An act of
adult domestic violence occurs every 15 seconds, more frequently than any
other crime in the U.S. (FBI).
One in
three reported domestic violence assaults involves use of a weapon and/or
results in serious bodily injury (BJS).
Victims of
domestic violence are three times more likely to be assaulted again within
six months than any other victims of assault (BJS).
Of all
homicides in the U.S., approximately 40% occur between family members and
persons who live together or have lived together (FBI).
Thirty
percent of women presenting with injuries in an Emergency Department are
battered (American Journal of Public Health).
Family
violence kills as many women every 5 years as the total number of Americans
who died in the Vietnam War (AMA).
In the study of homelessness undertaken by the
Pennsylvania Homeless Coalition, one out of three homeless households
identified domestic violence as the cause of their homelessness.
Eighty
percent of all hostage situations are related to domestic violence (U.S.
Department of Justice).
A woman
with children who leaves home has a 50% chance that her standard of living
will drop below the poverty level (NWAPP).
