Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the mistreatment of a significant other or family member by someone with whom the victim has an intimate or familiar past or present relationship. This includes dating relationships, spouses, children, the elderly, a person who has resided or is residing in the household, ex-spouses or partner and individuals who share a child in common. Domestic violence may include emotional abuse, physical abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation, power and control. For more information on domestic violence please visit either the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence websites.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone.
Approximately 80% of domestic violence victims are women
According to FBI statistics an incident of domestic violence occurs every 9 seconds in this country
As violence against women becomes more severe and more frequent in the home, children experience a 300% increase in physical violence by the male batterer
4,000 women are killed each year by an intimate partner, of those, 75% were killed after leaving the abusive relationship
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 to 44, more common than automobile accidents, muggings and rapes combined
More than 4 million incidents of domestic violence against women are reported every year
Every year, domestic violence results in almost 100,000 days of hospitalizations, almost 30,000 emergency room visits, and almost 40,000 visits to a physician