Abuse does not discriminate. It crosses all social, economic and cultural boundaries. The Commonwealth’s Attorney provides a Domestic Violence Program for those who are trying to escape abuse.

For more information or assistance, call 540.245.5057.

Domestic Violence Facts

• Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual intended to exert power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate relationship.

• It involves not only hitting or pushing, but also includes sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse as well. You may be a victim even if you have no physical injuries.

• Almost four million American women were physically abused by their husbands or boyfriends in the last year alone.

• A woman is physically abused every nine seconds in this country.

• Two-thirds of attacks on women are committed by someone the victim knows – often a husband or boyfriend.

• Women are more often victims of domestic violence than victims of burglary, mugging, or other physical crimes combined.

• More than one in three Americans have witnessed an incident of domestic violence. Nearly nine out of ten Americans say that domestic violence against women is a serious problem facing many families – and cuts across race, gender, socio-economic, and age lines.

• Forty-two percent of murdered women are killed by their intimate male partners.

• Men are also victims of domestic violence.

• Children are the most helpless victims of domestic violence.