NCJ Number
95326
Date Published
1982
Length
37 pages
Annotation
Basic statistics, information, and references on family violence, especially in Minnesota, are included in a packet.
Abstract
Family violence is construed broadly to include child abuse, spouse abuse, and the maltreatment of vulnerable adults. These forms of abuse are usually in the family or occur because of a dependency relation between victim and perpetrator. In recent years, Minnesota has had a marked increase in reports of child abuse or maltreatment, from about 5,000 in 1979 to 11,400 in 1983. It is not clear whether this resulted from better reporting or a true increase in child abuse. It is estimated that over 30,000 instances of battering of women occur yearly in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Corrections oversees a statewide network of 17 shelters for battered women. In 1982, 2,480 women and 3,310 children were housed in these shelters. About the same number of requests for shelter were denied because of lack of space. Reports on allegations of maltreatment of vulnerable adults are included. These persons are vulnerable because of an inability to identify or resist an abusing situation. In 1982, 869 allegations were noted. Of these, 84 were for sexual abuse, and 502 were for other physical abuse. In addition to these statistics, a list of services and programs available statewide to battered women and victims of sexual assaults, statistics on county population by age, total State arrests by crime type, and bibliographies on abuse are included.