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June 2000Vol. 1, No. 4Justice Bureau Examines Rates of Violence Against Women

Violent acts against women committed by their spouses or other intimate partners declined from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, intimate partners committed about 876,340 violent crimes against women (excluding murder), down from 1.1 million in 1993. In 1998, about 1,320 women were murdered by intimate partners.

These were among the findings of a report released in May by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Intimate Partner Violence" was prepared by BJS statisticians Callie Marie Rennison and Sarah Welchans. The authors analyzed data from the National Crime Victimization Survey administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and data about homicides from the FBI.

Other findings include the following:

  • Women were five times more likely than men to be victims of intimate partner violence in 1998. Men were victims of about 160,000 violent crimes by an intimate partner in 1998.
  • Younger women are more likely to be victims. Between 1993 and 1998, women ages 16 to 24 experienced the highest per capita rates of intimate violence, 19.6 per 1,000 women.
  • About 4 out of 10 female victims in 1998 lived in households with children under age 12. (This study did not assess the extent to which children witnessed intimate partner violence.)

To read the report online visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt. For single copies of the report, call the BJS fax-on-demand system at 301-519-5550, listen to the complete menu and select document number 201. Or, call the BJS Clearinghouse at 800-732-3277. Fax orders to 410-792-4358.

Related Items

APBNews features a special section on intimate violence, including articles, discussion forums, and resources. Visit http://www.apbnews.com/safetycenter/family/ 2000/05/17/dv_law0517_01.html. (Editor's note: this link is no longer active.)

HandsNet.com, a human services-focused website, is sponsoring an online discussion about family violence. Log on to http://www.HandsNet.com and follow the links within the site to Working Families Online Roundtables.

For related CB Express articles, search our archives for "domestic violence."

For information about Federal programs related to domestic violence, visit the Office of Violence Against Women website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/).

The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information provides information on the link between domestic violence and child abuse. To view or download a resource listing on family violence, visit http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?subjID=28&rate_chno=11-11133. To view or download a selected bibliography on The Link Between Child Abuse and Family Violence visit http://www.calib.com/nccanch/pubs/bibs/cadv.cfm. (Editor's note: this link is no longer available.)

To request hard copies of Clearinghouse products, contact:

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
330 C St., SW
Washington, DC 20447
Tel.: 800-FYI-3366 or 703-385-7565
Fax: 703-385-3206
Email: nccanch@caliber.com
Website: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov