Domestic violence has become America's most common crime and tragically its least reported. The percentages are overwhelming, and the statistics can be "hard to swallow," but it is important to remember that behind each statistic is face with a name. The impact of violence is far reaching. How does a mother survive, not just the blows to her body, but the terror and fear written on her child's heart and reflected in her child's eyes?Domestic violence is defined as abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. (USDOJ, 2009)It has been said that, "Domestic violence is America's hidden war.
Grandville : Cent Proverbes
Domestic violence in Spain 1998-2007
City of Fresno domestic violence statistics.And the battleground is in all our homes." The truth of that statement is seen in the following statistics presented by Shank and Hunter (2009):Current estimates reveal that every 15 seconds an act of domestic violence occurs somewhere in the United States.
Every 6 hours a woman is battered to death.
Annually that translates into more than 2.5 million victims per year. And more than 1 million of those victims, primarily women, will have to seek medical assistance for injuries caused by battering.
It is nearly impossible to comprehend the devastation and destruction that happens with a swift punch to the face or kick in the gut. Imagine yourself fleeing from an abusive partner in the middle of the night with two children, six dollars in your purse and the clothes you're wearing. Where will you go? And if you manage to make it out alive, how will you...