Domestic Violence:

The Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois works to end domestic violence in individual lives and society as a whole. We work with women, children and men who are victims of domestic violence.

As advocates, we know that…

...The Illinois Domestic Violence Act States:

Domestic Violence means physical abuse, harassment, intimidation of a dependent, interference of personal liberty or willful deprivation but does not include reasonable direction of a minor child by a parent or person in loco parentis. (750 ILCS 60/103 (1))

Additionally, it states that persons protected by the act include i) any person abused by a family or household member; ii) any high-risk adult with disabilities who is abused, neglected or exploited by a family or household member; iii) any minor child or dependent adult in the care of such a person; and iv) any person residing or employed at a private home or public shelter which is housing an abused family or household member. (750 ILCS 60/201 (a)).

The above is cited from Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. For more information, please view the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence's web page at http://www.ilcadv.org.

... Domestic Violence Affects Women

• Nearly one quarter of women in the US, more than 12 million, will be abused by a current or former partner some time during their lives.
• 47% of husbands who beat their wives do so three or more times a year.
• According to FBI statistics, 30% of women who were murdered in 1990 were killed by husbands or boyfriends. It is estimated that 52% of female murder victims were killed by a current or former partner.

Battered women account for

• 22%-35% of women seeking care for any reason in emergency departments.
• 23% of pregnant women seeking prenatal care.
• 45% to 59% of mothers of abused children.
• 58% of women over 30 years old who have been raped.

All above statistics are from Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines on Domestic Violence by the American Medical Association, Chicago, Illinois.

... Domestic Violence Affects Children

80%-90% of children are aware of the domestic violence in their families. Men who batter their wives are likely to assault their children. Statistics from Hart, Barbara, (2000) Children of Domestic Violence: Risks & Remedies MINICAVA (Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse Electronic Clearinghouse. Infants exposed to violence may not develop the attachments to their caretakers, which are critical to their development; in extreme cases they may suffer from failure to thrive. Preschool children in violent homes may regress developmentally and suffer sleep disturbances, including nightmares. School-age children who witness violence exhibit a range of problem behaviors including depression, anxiety, and violence toward peers. Adolescents who have grown up in violent homes are at risk for recreating the abusive relationships they have seen. Statistics from Carter, Jane & Susan Schecter (1997, November). Child Abuse & Domestic Violence: Creating Community Partnerships for Safe Families. Family Violence Prevention Fund.

Additional links for statistics, information, and literature:

http://www.fvpf.org/facts for national statistics

http://www.ncadv.org for links to other national statistics and studies (links page)

http://www.ivpa.org for state statistics

http://www.ilcadv.org for the Illinois Coalition information, information on the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, Library resources, etc.

http://www.vawnet.org for research literature accessible on the Web

http://www.isp.state.il.us for domestic violence information from the Illinois State Police; once on the page, click on the "info center" button, then click on the "Domestic Violence Prevention" line

http://abanet.org/domviol/home.html for links to the American Bar Association's commission on domestic violence

... Domestic Violence affects women:

• Domestic violence is the single most common source of injury to women – it is more common than auto accidents, muggings, and rapes by a stranger combined.
• 97% of the women killed by another family member were killed by their husband.
• More than 4,000 women each year are killed by their partners.
• By age 20, 1 in 3 young women will experience dating violence.

... Domestic Violence affects children:

• 63% of boys, ages 11 to 20, arrested for homicide, have killed their mother’s abuser.
• 70% of men in court ordered treatment for domestic violence witnessed it as a child.
• 80% of runaways come from homes where domestic violence occurs.

... Domestic Violence affects men:

• 5-10% of domestic violence victims are men, although this is a highly underreported number due to society’s stigmas.

... Domestic Violence affects society as a whole:

• Medical expenses from domestic violence are about $3-5 billion annually and businesses forfeit at least another $100 million in lost wages, sick leave, non-productivity and absenteeism.

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