What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence (DV) or Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pattern of behavior in any intimate relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over a partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Who is Affected by Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. In the majority of cases, it is usually men abusing women, but it can also be women abusing men, as well as mutual battering. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

What are the Warning Signs of Domestic Violence?

Checking up on you too much: for example, your partner may be listening to your phone calls, asking you where you were, calling you at work throughout the day, or checking the mileage on your car.
Putting you down: for example, your partner may call you names, criticize you frequently, humiliate you in public or private, or make you feel crazy.
Trying to control what you do: for example, your partner may be telling you not to see certain friends or family members, keeping you from going to school or work, making you stay at home when you want to go out.
Acting jealous or possessive and saying that is a sign of love.
Destroying or threatening to destroy your belongings.
Threatening to hurt you, your friends, other family members, or pets.
Touching you in a way that hurts or scares you.
Making you have sex in ways or at times that are not comfortable for you.
Blaming you or others for everything; getting angry in a way that scares you.
Saying that your concerns and fears about your relationship are not real or not important.

How can I help a friend or family member who is being abused?

Let them know you are concerned for their safety.
Acknowledge they are in a very difficult and frightening situation.
Be supportive and non-judgmental.
Help them to develop a safety plan.
Encourage them to participate in activities with friends and family.
Become familiar with the “cycle of violence” and the “dynamics of power and control.”

Domestic Violence in America

Four million women in America experience a serious IPV assault each year.
On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands each day.
37% of all women who sought care in hospital emergency rooms for violence-related injuries were injured by a current or former intimate partner.
For 30% of women who experience IPV, the first incident occurred during pregnancy.
Violence against women costs companies $72.8 million annual due to lost productivity.
74% of employed battered women were harassed by their partner while they were at work.

Domestic Violence Statistics

California Statistics

In 2006, DOJ reports 134 murders in CA were the result of intimate partner violence
Of those, 110 women were killed by their husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, partners or former partners
In 2006 law enforcement agencies received 176,229 domestic violence related calls for assistance
In 2006 DOJ reports 43,911 domestic violence related arrests

Local Statistics

In 2007 KCSD responded to 1,448 domestic violence related calls
In 2007 BPD responded to 3,212 domestic violence related calls
In 2007 there were 1059 child abuse referrals citing domestic violence involvement in Kern County
In 2007 AAFVSA provided services to more than 9,800 victims and more than 2,300 of those were DV victims

Teen Dating Violence

20% (or one in five) female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, slapped, choked or physically hurt by an intimate partner.
50% of youth reporting both dating violence and rape also reported attempting suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.
Females ages 16-24 are more vulnerable to IPV than any other group at a rate almost triple the national average.
In a study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience IPV as youths involved in opposite-sex dating.
81% of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue, or admit they don’t know if it is an issue.