The Need FBI estimates that a woman is a victim of domestic violence every 18 seconds. Once started, domestic violence escalates. One eighth of all homicides in the U.S. are committed by partners killing partners.
Domestic violence occurs among every race,ethnic group and socio-economic level.
Battering is so common that it cannot be considered only a personal problem. The effect on the community as a whole is measured in human and financial terms. Nonetheless, as prevalent as domestic violence is, it continues to be among the most unreported of crimes. Threats of violence and battering are learned behaviors that are reinforced by violence in the media, in society at large, and by the traditional structure of dominance in family life. Often those who become violent were victims or observers of it in their family of origin.