In 1995 Florida's reported incidents of domestic violence increased from 1994 by 9.4 percent (131,152). The rate per 100,000 population increased by 7.3 percent, a rate that produced a victim of domestic violence every 4 minutes. Although domestic violence incidents reported to the police increased substantially from the previous year, more than 80 percent of the increase occurred in the misdemeanor categories. With the exception of aggravated assault, all felony crime showed declines. Women continue to be the victims of domestic violence in much greater numbers than men. In 1995 the victims were female in almost 73 percent of all cases. In felonies, females were the victims in 63 percent of the reported incidents. For the past 4 years, over half of all domestic-violence-related felonies resulted in minor or serious injury; most of the injuries reported were categorized as "minor." In 1995 over 65 percent of the murders committed during an incident of domestic violence involved use of a firearm. Although figures on domestic violence were not specifically reported in Florida prior to 1992, information on family-related murders has been collected since 1971. A table presents data on family-related murder over the past two decades in Florida. 6 tables
Domestic Violence in Florida, 1994 and 1995
NCJ Number
164094
Date Published
August 1996
Annotation
Data on domestic violence in Florida for 1994 and 1995 encompass the number of reported offenses, victim characteristics, victim injuries, firearm use in domestic violence, and family-related murders.
Abstract
Date Published: August 1, 1996