Family Violence Information

• Family Violence is a coercive pattern of power and control that is exhibited by any combination of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and/or financial abuse by one family member on another.



• The FBI tells us that an act of family violence occurs every 12 seconds, more frequently than any other crime in the United States.



• Family violence is a major factor in a range of serious social problems including juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, adult criminality, homelessness, and alcohol and substance abuse.



• Children who are abused or see abuse in the home often establish violent and abusive homes when they are adults, continuing the "cycle of violence."



• Two and one-half million Americans are victims of abuse. Demographically, persons 65 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. Elder abuse occurs in all racial and ethnic groups and among families of all income levels.