Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence: Applying Best Practice Guidelines

Statistics, Con't.

Introduction

Defining the Problem

Statistics

Identifying Abuse

Consequences of Violence

Risk Factors for IPV/DV

Dynamics of Abuse

Select Populations and IPV/DV

Barriers to the Identification of Violence

Best Practice Guidelines

Reporting IPV/DV

Documentation & Follow-up

Safety Planning

Conclusion

Resources

References

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Test

Exit to Menu



Statistics for Kentucky

Women in Kentucky are at risk for IPV/DV at levels that exceed national statistics. In 2005, the reported lifetime prevalence of intimate partner abuse in women nationally was 25.5%, for Kentucky women the lifetime prevalence was 36.6%. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (2005) the majority of IPV/DV victims in Kentucky reported multiple rather than single IPV episodes over 12 months; three-fourths (76.7%) of them experienced psychological stress or physical injuries (74.1%), and more than one-fourth (29.8%) of abused, injured women sought medical treatment or counseling.

Domestic violence includes any of the following crimes when committed by one family member/partner against another: homicide, kidnapping, sex offenses, stalking, assault, and terroristic threatening. The statistics have been compiled for the Fiscal Year of 08 (FY08), which is July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 (KSP, 2008).

Total Kentucky Adult Protection Reports Received by DSS in FY ‘08
(Adult Abuse, Spouse Abuse, Self Neglect, Caretaker Neglect and Exploitation)

 54,701
Total Number of Resulting Allegations 31,247
Domestic Violence Allegations Investigated (Spouse, Ex-Spouse, Paramour) 19,193
Adult Abuse Allegations Investigated 2,489
Caretaker Neglect, Self Neglect and Exploitation Allegations Investigated 9,565
Percent of Total Adult Protection Allegations due to Domestic Violence 35%
Percent Increase of Domestic Violence Allegations from FY ’07 7.4%

During Domestic Violence Counts, the National Census of Domestic Violence Services, held on September 17, 2008, 14 out of 14, or 100%, of identified domestic violence programs in Kentucky participated. On that day 1,315 IPV/DV victims were served (NNEDV, 2008):

  • 484 domestic violence victims found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs.
  • 831 adults and children received non-residential assistance and services, including individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children's support groups.
  • 290 hotline calls were answered. Domestic violence hotlines are a lifeline for victims in danger, providing support, information, safety planning, and resources. In the 24-hour survey period, domestic violence programs answered more than 12 hotline calls every hour.
  • 253 were educated in prevention and education trainings. On the survey day, 253 individuals in communities across Kentucky attended 16 training sessions provided by local domestic violence programs, gaining much needed information on domestic violence prevention and early intervention.

The Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA) reports that in fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009):

  • Kentucky domestic violence programs received 32,669 crisis-related calls.
  • Kentucky domestic violence programs sheltered 4,428 survivors and their dependent children.

The relationship of women victims to perpetrators, during fiscal year 2009 was:

Spouse 715
Ex-spouse 110
Unmarried w/child 426
Unmarried w/o child 749
Perpetrator unknown 147
  2,147

Continue on to Identifying Abuse