1

FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abstract

This is an aggressive behavior directed towards a partner at home that often culminates with

homicide. More than half a million people die across the world every year as a result of

domestic. Since 1970s, homicides as a result of domestic violence were declining in the US up to

until recent years where they have been on the rise again. More than half of the killings are

usually from the current or previous male partners. Despite the fact that the frequencies vary,

fatal domestic violence cuts across all races and age. Data on male deaths resulting from

domestic violence is scarce but according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information,

only 14.7% of homicides in the US have been committed by women with 84.3% being

committed by men.

Key words: fatal, homicides, violence

 2
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Figure 1.1 Distribution of women deaths resulting from fatal domestic violence across

different races in America.

Deaths

White non-Hispanic Black non-Hispanic Hispanic

Asian Native Americans

Fatal domestic violence

Homicide data compiled by the National Violent Death Reporting system across 18

selected states in the US from 2003 to 2014 indicated that about 55.3% of deaths among women

above 18 years old were as a result of fatal domestic violence. Based on the data, 79.2% of

homicides resulting from domestic violence were directed by their current partners while 14.3%
 3
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
by their previous partners. A large section of women who were victims of homicide were single

at 38.2%. Besides murder, 11.2% of the cases were accompanied by other crimes including;

assault at 45.6%, rape at 11.1% and burglary at 9.9%. About 12% of the homicides were as a

result of jealousy, majorly among the Hispanics. From the data, more white non-Hispanic

women had died as a result of domestic violence as compared to any other group at 55%.

Statistics on other races include; the black non-Hispanic at 30.6%, the Hispanics at 18.5%, the

Asians at 2.7% and the American natives at 2.5%. More than 50% of the women are killed by

firearms while about 10% are strangled to death annually (Petrosky, et al 2017).

Risk factors for fatal domestic violence

Different groups of people experience different risk factors that often lead to fatal

domestic violence (Durgan, 2018). Examining this is critical towards identifying the possible

interventions that can be put in place so as to curb this vice. Some of these risk factors are

discussed below.

Age.

The probability of occurrence of fatal domestic violence tend to reduce as one grows old.

Also, age gaps in any relationship or marriage is likely to affect occurrence of violence. Large

age gaps of are likely to propel violence in a relationship. Those at risk are those women who

have men with an age difference of more than 16 years and those men with women who have an

age difference of more than ten years.

Family risk factors.

Some people are exposed to family wrangles from their parents when they are still young.

This may be transmitted to their marriages later in their lives as a result of intergenerational
 4
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
transmission (Yvonne et al, 2003). Some are victims of child labor and antisocial behavior

directed towards them when they are still children. Parents’ behavior can be used to predict how

a child will grow up through adolescence to becoming an adult. Therefore, children raised by

more responsible parents tend up to be more responsible in life. They may not be victims of

violence during their marriages.

Socioeconomic status factors.

Education is a major influencer on the probability of occurrence of fatal domestic

violence. When both the man and the woman in a relationship or marriage have attained a certain

level of education, there would be some form of connection between them thus there are likely to

control any conflict that may arise in their relationship. Couples with a low education status are

likely to be involved in fatal domestic violence as compared to others. Income is regarded as the

main cause of domestic violence in the US among the Blacks, the Hispanic and the Euro ethnic

Americans. Overall studies conclude that low incomes and unemployment are the major causes

of fatal domestic violence among couples in the US.

Stress.

Stress results from several factors and the environment surrounding an individual. The

most common among couples is the financial stress which leads to most fatal domestic violence

in marriages (Yvonne et al, 2003). Work related stress is mostly experienced by non-Hispanic

whites and the Hispanic men which leads to high levels of alcohol use often leading to violence.

Acculturation stress is mostly experienced by the Hispanic couples due to the diversity that exists

in the US. Parenting stress however is experienced across parents from all ethnicities which leads

to frequent arguments that often results in violence.

 5
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Intervention types

Screening tools to identify the victims.

This tools help to identify the possible victims and help in intervention to prevent further

violence. This tools involve administering a series of questions by use of the questionnaires. This

tools have been set in areas like emergency centers, mental health centers and pre natal care

department in hospitals. A study conducted in one emergency center in Canada showed that the

using the screening improved domestic violence detection rate from 1% to 14% among the

female patients (Durgan, 2018). Other factors should however be considered in the process of

screening. The staff should be well trained to ensure they follow up on the patient after the time

he/she is in the emergency center and after discharge from the hospital; this includes providing

mental health support. They should also ensure that there is some privacy during the screening

process so that the victims can provide honest answers.

Programs for the perpetrators.

This programs help to change the attitude of the perpetrators towards becoming better

people during the course. They include certified barter intervention programs which are run by

the state or county depending on the location. The programs last for a period of between 12 to 51

weeks and are aimed at providing them with skills that will enable them to have better behavior

in their relationships and families. There are many ways of conducting this kind of intervention

including; police arrest, court trial and upon being found guilty, giving him/her an order to take

up the recommendations from the barter intervention program. The perpetrator is then put on

probation where he/she is monitored for a period of time. This program is more effective in
 6
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
curbing fatal domestic violence but it should be well coordinated of prevent any cases of

violence in future.

Death fatality review processes

The fatality review initiative provides help in going through deaths resulting from

violence and coming up with solutions to prevent them in the future, provide safety to the

victims and ensure that those involved in perpetrating violence are prosecuted. It encompasses of

teams that were set up to identify the existing gaps in the process of responding towards

domestic violence. The review process has a particular order of which the ach team should

follow as discussed below.

Understanding the circumstance of the death.

The review process may differ from one another depending on the structure which may

be formal or informal. It may be influenced by availability of data. The medical officers, media

respondents and the police may help in reporting the death and its particular cause. The team

then provides its recommendations in accordance to their training.

Identifying the risk factors.

The team now focusses on comprehending and compiling all the risks related to the death

and focused on how the risks will be minimized in future. The teams should be well trained so as

to conduct the risk assessment in the most appropriate manner.

 7
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Identifying prevention strategies.

Knowing the cause of deaths and associated risk factors is key in coming up with

strategies to prevent or minimize the occurrence in future. Through deliberation process, the

teams can come up with the best ways to minimize domestic violence in the country.
 8
FATAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
References

Block, Carolyn Rebecca. 2003. How can practitioners help an abused woman lower her risk of

death? Journal of National Institute of Justice, December, Vol 250: 4-6

Campbell, Jacquelyn C., Daniel Webster, Jane Koziol-McLain, Carolyn Rebecca Block, Doris

Campbell, Mary Ann Curry, Faye Gary, Judith McFarlane, Carolyn Sachs, Phyllis Sharps,

Yvonne Ulrich, and Susan A. Wilt. 2003. Assessing risk factors for intimate partner homicide.

Journal of National Institute of Justice, December, Vol 250: 15-19

Petrosky E, Blair JM, Betz CJ, Fowler KA, Jack SP, Lyons BH. 2017. Racial and ethnic

differences in homicides of adult women and the role of intimate partner violence — the United

States, 2003–2014. MMWR Morbidity Mortality Weekly. 66:741–746.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6628a1

Zahn, Margaret. 2003. Intimate partner homicide: A review. Journal of National Institute of

Justice, December, Vol 250: 2.

Websdale, Neil. 2003. Reviewing domestic violence deaths. Journal of National Institute of

Justice, December, Vol 250: 26-29.

Duggan, M. (2018). ‘Idealising’ domestic violence victims. Revisiting the “Ideal Victim,” 159–175.

doi: 10.1332/policypress/9781447338765.003.0010

E., R. L. (2017). Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice, 3–20. doi:

10.4324/9781315157092-2