Three percent of all male murder victims were killed by wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends, according to data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reports. Because domestic violence usually takes place in private, many people have no idea how widespread the problem is. Victims require medical attention, take time off from work, and suffer from stress and depression.
Perpetrators turn up in court time and again and often suffer from alcohol and other drug abuse.
Recently, efforts have been made to increase resources and improve services for victims and perpetrators. The use of coordinated community initiatives can help strengthen safety networks for individuals and families. School-based programs can address teen dating violence. Home visits and interventions with child witnesses to domestic violence have shown promise. In Philadelphia, local public health officials and criminal justice professionals have teamed up since 1997 to curb the number of violence-related deaths of women.