Intimate Partner Violence Intimate partner violence (IPV), often called domestic violence, is generally described as abuse within the context of an intimate partner relationship, where one partner asserts power and control over the other. While legal definitions vary by state, IPV can include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as economic coercion. IPV affects millions of individuals, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, education, or economic status. Because of the seriousness of this crime, the effects on victims and their families, and the difficulties in the criminal justice system response, victims of IPV may require sustained resources, including access to emergency shelter, housing assistance, protection orders, safety planning, support groups, financial assistance, and other forms of support. Trends In 2015, the rate of intimate partner violent victimization among women rose about 46% over the previous year. However, in the 20 years since 1995, the rates of violent intimate partner victimization among men and women have decreased by 98% and 65%, respectively. Because the personal nature of these victimizations often influences a victim’s decision to report the crime, victimizations by intimate partners are highly underreported. In 2015, violent victimizations committed by family members were reported more frequently than those committed by intimate partners, followed by acquaintances (either well-known or casual) and strangers.A Intimate Partner Victimization by SexA Percent of Victimizations Reported to PoliceA rate per 1,000 people 20 16 by victim’s relationship to offender 80% 20 15.5 70% Men Women 12 60% 50% 80% 49 46 67 57 54 43 42 40% 4.9 8 4 0 2.8 5.4 30% 20% 1.6 0.5 48 46 40 10% 34 31 0% 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Other family Intimate partner Acquaintance Stranger According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), an estimated 47% of men and women will be victims of psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In addition, 1/3 of women will be victims of physical violence, and 1/4 of contact sexual violence,* by an intimate partner. Almost 1/4 of men will be victims of physical violence by an intimate partner.B Lifetime Estimate of Intimate Partner ViolenceB Did You Know? by sex and type of victimization 50% 46.5 47.1 Men Women 31.5 27.5 27.3 11.5 9.2 2.5 Psychological aggression Physical violence Contact sexual violence* Stalking 10% of high schoolers who report being in a dating relationship experience physical violence by a boyfriend or girlfriend; 10% also experience sexual violence.C 9% of homicides are committed by intimate partners.D 20% of women who identify as victims of intimate partner violence report that they experience 1 or more PTSD symptoms, compared to 5% of men.B *“Contact sexual violence” includes rape, being made to penetrate a perpetrator, sexual coercion, and unwanted sexual contact. 2017 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide: Crime and Victimization Fact Sheets Current Data on Intimate Partner Violence Psychological aggression is the most common form of intimate partner violence, affecting men and women of all races and ethnicities. The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native women estimated to be victimized by intimate partners is higher than any other race or ethnicity. (National estimates of IPV are not reported for men across all ethnicities.)B Estimate of Intimate Partner Violence against WomenB An estimated 71% of female intimate partner victims are victimized before age 25; 23% before age 18. Comparatively, 58% of male intimate partner victims are victimized before age 25; 14% before age 18.B Age of First Intimate Partner VictimizationB by sex 100% by race/ethnicity 100% 60% 40% 43.9 29.7 53.8 41.2 24.2 47.2 30.5 31.8 71.1 Women 100% 80% Men 63.8 51.7 42.4 61.1 51.3 43.1 14.1 28.0 58.2 23.2 Before 18 Before 25 20% 0% Hispanic Hispanic Black, NonWhite, NonAmerican Multiracial Black, White, American Indian/ Multiracial Hispanic Hispanic Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic Non-Hispanic Alaska Native Contact Sexual Violence Contact sexual violence Physical Violence Physical violence Psychological Aggression Psychological aggression In 2015, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs collected information from almost 2,000 LGBTQ and HIVaffected individuals who had been victims of intimate partner violence. Of these, 43% identified as gay, 19% as lesbian, 10% as bisexual, and 9% as queer; and 41% were under 30 years old, while 30% were age 30–39.E ercentage of Intimate Partner Violence (By Percentage of Intimate Partner ViolenceE Sexual Orientation) Households earning between $15,000 and $24,999 reported slightly more intimate partner victimizations in 2015 than other households. However, intimate partner violence is not isolated to any particular income bracket.A Intimate Partner Violence by Household IncomeA in thousands of victimizations $50,000–$74,999 112.0 $35,000–$49,999 by victim’s sexual orientation $25,000–$34,999 Gay Gay (43%) Lesbian Lesbian (19%) Bisexual Heterosexual (16%) Heterosexual QueerBisexual (10%) Other $15,000–$24,999 Queer (9%) 108.9 $75,000 or more 65.1 36.1 144.0 81.9 $7,500–$14,999 Less than $7,500 51.2 150,000 Other (3%) SOURCES In more than 80% of intimate partner violent victimizations, the victim did not receive assistance V Victims Who Recieved Service from Victim from victim service A agencies in 2015. Service Agencies Intimate Partner Victimizations for which Victim Received ServicesA from victim service agencies Did not receive services (82%) Received services (18%) Received Did Not Receive A Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Concatenated File, 1992-2015, (U.S. Department of Justice) B Matthew J. Breiding et al., “Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization, NISVS 2011,” MMWR vol 63, 8(2014): www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6308.pdf C CDC, Youth Behavior Surveillance System, 2015, https://nccd.cdc.gov/ Youthonline/App/Default.aspx D FBI, Crime in the United States, 1995 - 2015, (U.S. Department of Justice), Table 10 E Emily Waters, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-Affected Intimate Partner Violence in 2015,” (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2016), www.avp.org/storage/documents/2015_ncavp_ lgbtqipvreport.pdf