Domestic violence tends to recur and increase in severity over time.
The problem of domestic violence crosses all socio-economic boundaries. Battered women are of every age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and social class, both married and single. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States, more common than auto accidents, rapes, and muggings combined. It is estimated that a woman is battered every 7.5 seconds in the United States. Domestic violence is the most frequently occurring and underreported crime in the nation.