Domestic Violence
Also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse or intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends, or cohabitation. Besides batteries and assaults, crimes of domestic violence include stalking, orviolation of a protection order, and crimes against one’s children.
Under Florida Statute domestic violence is defined as any aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another who is or was residing in the same single dwelling unit (Florida Statute §741.30)
Ten facts about domestic violence
1. Domestic violence is not confined to any one socio-economic, ethnic, religious, racial or age group
and knows no geographic or educational boundaries. It also occurs in teenage and same sex relationships.
2. 85% of all domestic violence victims are women.
3. Women are most often victimized by someone they know.
4. Domestic violence is one of the most underreported crimes.
5. 37% of women seeking injury-related treatment in hospital emergency rooms were there
because of injuries inflicted by a current or former spouse/partner.
6. 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year.
7. Child abuse occurs in 30-60% of domestic violence cases that involve families with children.
8. Over a million women experience intimate partner violence annually in the United States.
9. In the U.S, more than three women are killed by an intimate partner every day — more than 1200 women every year.
10. 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner.
There is never a reason for violence!
Get help now.
If you, a friend or loved one is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, you can take action right now to help yourself or them to stay safe.
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24-hour Domestic Violence Hotlines
Emergency Numbers
Emergency: 911
Miami Switchboard: 211
Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 500-1119
Miami Police Department Domestic Crimes Bureau: (305) 349-5888
Florida Abuse Hotline (DCF): (800) 96-ABUSE: (800)-962-2873
M.U.J.E.R. : (305) 247-1388
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Shelters
Advocates for Victims North/Safespace Shelter: (305) 758-2546
Advocates for Victims South/Safespace Shelter: (305) 247-4249
The Lodge: (305) 693-1170
Women in Distress: (954) 760-9800 (in Broward County)
Monroe County Domestic Abuse Shelters:
Low Keys (305) 294-0824; Mid-Keys (305) 743-4440; Upper Keys (305) 852-6222[/one_half_last]
