A Genesee County activist said the statistics there, in contrast to Wayne County's, reflected more willingness to report domestic violence. The reporting is much higher than ever before. People are more aware of the problem and the ripple effect it has in the community. Assistant Genesee County Prosecutor Daniel Stamos said his office handled 127 cases in which people were specifically charged with domestic violence. More serious charges also were filed in some cases, depending on the circumstances, he said.
Domestic violence is a problem.
Michigan residents participated in the 2000 census above the national average but dropped to 71 percent - 1 percentage point from the state's 1990 census performance. Among the nation's most populous counties, Macomb County had the best response rate with 81 percent of residents completing the form. One of the things I've found consistently is that in terms of dedication to good citizenship, Macomb County ranks very high, and they perform that way. Oakland County ranked third with 79 percent of residents returning a form. Detroit was singled out by the U.S. Census Bureau as a city that made an effort to get the most accurate count possible, even among the homeless and poor who often are missed.