Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - An event was held at the Olmsted County Government Center Thursday to recognize domestic violence issues.

Local elected and other officials joined county employees at the noon hour event. Rochester City Council President Randy Staver read a statement proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  

Several displays dealing with domestic violence have been put up at various sites in the city and can be viewed through the end of the month.

“Clothesline Project" by Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women - DoubleTree Hotel Skyway


"Remember My Name" display - Olmsted County Community Services, 2117 Campus Dr SE


"Tombstone Honor" display - Rochester Community & Technical College, 851 30th Ave SE


"Clothesline Project/Children in Shelter" display - Rochester Downtown Skywalk

 

"From Victim to Survivor; Stories of Hope" - Women's Shelter, Inc. Facebook page

 

Here are statistics about the prevalence and seriousness of domestic violence in our community, state and nation are attached for your reference.

 

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.



Olmsted County Stats:


2015 Olmsted County Court System – Domestic assaults
   511 New reports of DV
   145 Domestic assaults are repeat offenders (# believed to be low/ or inaccurate)
  284 Children were present at the time of the assault (# believed to be low /or inaccurate)


2014 Olmsted County Court system - Domestic assaults
512 New reports of DV
52.5% of the domestic assaults are repeat offender
84% are male offenders     16% are female offenders
387 Detained arrests,         106 Citations,        19 NA
12 victims identified themselves as being in a LGBT relationship with the offender
311 Children were present at the time of the assault


2013 Olmsted County Court system – Domestic assaults
Jan-Mar:   106
Apr-June:  86
Jul-Sept:  127
Oct-Dec:  94       
Total:     413 New reports of DV


MN Stats:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MINNESOTA

• In 2011, Minnesota courts adjudicated 27,288 cases of domestic violence.

• Over 80% of domestic violence victims in 2002 did not report the violence to Minnesota law enforcement.

• 1 in 3 homeless women in Minnesota is homeless because of domestic violence.

• In 2013, at least 26 women, 7 men, and 6 family members/friends in Minnesota were murdered in domestic violence homicides.

• In 2014, 56% of Minnesota domestic violence homicides were committed with firearms.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

• On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls, 15 calls per minute.

• Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.

• The presence of a gun in the home during a domestic violence incident increases the risk of homicide by at least 500%.

• 72% of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these crimes are female.


2013 - Minnesota

At least 25 women died from domestic violence

At least 6 family members/friends were murdered

At least 7 men died from domestic violence



2014 - Minnesota

At least 16 women died from domestic violence

At least 5 family members/friends were murdered

At least 2 men died from domestic violence



2015- Minnesota

At least 34 Minnesotans were killed due to violence from a current or former intimate partner.

At least 22 women were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a current or former husband, boyfriend, or male intimate partner.

At least 9 friends, family members or interveners were murdered in domestic violence-related situations.

At least 3 men were murdered in a case where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a current or former intimate partner.

At least 17 minor children were left motherless due to domestic violence murders.

Note: At the time this report was completed, MCBW was reviewing four additional cases. These deaths occurred in 2015 but MCBW is waiting for information on whether the deaths would be officially ruled homicides, and information on the nature of the relationship between the victim and suspected perpetrator.



National Stats:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS:

• Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.

• In the United States, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner.

• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner.

• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked. Stalking causes the target to fear she/he or someone close to her/him will be harmed or killed.

• On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive approximately 20,800 calls.

• The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.

• Domestic violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.

• Domestic violence is most common among women between the ages of 18-24.

• 19% of domestic violence involves a weapon.

• Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.

• Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.



ECONOMIC EFFECTS:

• Victims of domestic violence lose a total of 8 million days of paid work each year.

• The cost of domestic violence exceeds $8.3 billion annually.

• Between 21-60% of victims of domestic violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse.

• Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were murdered in their workplace by former or current intimate partners. This amounts to 22% of workplace homicides among women.



WHY DO PEOPLE STAY IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS?

One of the most common questions people ask about victims of domestic violence is, “Why don’t they just leave?” People stay in abusive relationships for a variety of reasons including:

• The victim fears the abuser’s violent behavior will escalate if (s)he tries to leave.

• The abuser has threatened to kill the victim, the victim’s family, friends, pets, children and/or himself/herself.

• The victim loves his/her abuser and believes (s)he will change.

• The victim believes abuse is a normal part of a relationship.

• The victim is financially dependent on the abuser.

• The abuser has threatened to take the victim’s children away if (s)he leaves.

• The victim wants her/his children to have two parents.

• The victim’s religious and/or cultural beliefs preclude him/her from leaving.

• The victim has low self-esteem and believes (s)he is to blame for the abuse.

• The victim is embarrassed to let others know (s)he has been abused.

• The victim has nowhere to go if (s)he leaves.

• The victim fears retribution from the abuser’s friends and/or family.

 

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