About half of all domestic violence incidents are reported to law enforcement, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. While the number of reported domestic violence incidents based on Bureau of Justice Statistics data has not changed much from 2010 to 2019, the data from the crime victimization survey reveals the problem is still prevalent.
Domestic violence is a broad term that includes violent acts perpetrated by family members or intimate partners. Intimate partner violence is a subset of domestic violence. It’s defined as abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship. Intimate partner violence includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as economic coercion, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime.
The rate of domestic violence committed by an intimate partner or family member was 4.2 victimizations per 1,000 people in 2019, decreasing from 4.8 per 1,000 people in 2018. From 2010 to 2019, the average victimization rate was 4.4 per 1,000 people.
