NCJ Number
197356
Date Published
April 2001
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This report provides data about the nature and scope of domestic violence in Massachusetts from numerous sources.
Abstract
The purpose of this Governor’s Commission on Domestic Violence report is to aid program managers, policy analysts, and others in locating data sources and statistics relating to a wide range of domestic violence topics. Statistics and information in this report have been compiled from the criminal justice system, emergency departments, service providers, population-based surveys, and other databases such as the Family Violence Homicide Record. It is hoped that this report will help in the targeting of resources to this problem, as well as evaluating programs and refining policies. Some recommendations offered in this report include the creation of a clearinghouse for domestic violence statistics and recommendations for information that existing data systems should incorporate in order to better report on this topic. For instance, it is recommended that data systems should include details about the victim-offender relationship, the city/town or census track where the incident took place, and data concerning immigrant or refugee populations. Furthermore, it is recommended that data concerning the sexual orientation of those involved in domestic violence disputes be recorded in order to better understand domestic violence among gay and lesbian couples. When reviewing the data collected in this report, it is necessary to be aware that all of the reports have limitations. Representativeness and completeness of the data are often a problem, as well as the quality of data and the utility of the data. Appendix