Courtney Downs
Kentucky Youth Advocates
The second annual statewide domestic violence data report was released in June, detailing the harrowing reality for thousands of adults and children across the state.
Domestic violence is “a systemic pattern of power and control exercised by one intimate partner over another.” Domestic violence can involve the intentional perpetration of a variety of abusive behaviors, including:
• Being isolated from family and friends;
• Threatened with a weapon;
• Being coerced to commit a crime or engage in other activities against their will;
• Being denied access to money or transportation;
• Have been physically and/or sexually abused.
Key takeaways from the 2023 report:
• The incidence of physical violence, sexual violence and stalking remained roughly the same compared to 2022, with 32.9% of men and 44.5% of women experiencing domestic violence or related effects.
• A comparison of state domestic violence rates shows that Kentucky continues to have some of the highest rates of violence against women in the nation.
• As a result of Senator Westerfield’s SB 271 (2022), the Department of Community Based Services created a data indicator on the presence of intimate partner violence and added it as a required question on all child welfare intake screenings. According to this newly obtained data, between April 2023 and December 2023, there were 26,582 unique reports of suspected child abuse that were also suspected domestic violence.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Justice, just over half (53.8%) of domestic violence assault cases are reported to police, supporting the assertion that “the true prevalence and impact of domestic violence far exceeds the scope of the data collected in this report.”
It’s understandable that the sheer magnitude of this report can feel overwhelming. It’s painful to think of the people in our lives who make up this data. But the more we know about the scope of the problem, the better prepared we will be to respond to the needs of victims and their children, hold abusers accountable, challenge the societal norms that perpetuate the cycle of violence, and advocate for changes in policy and practice that can reduce (and ultimately eliminate) domestic violence in Kentucky.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or dating violence, you are not alone.
Support and resources are available throughout the state.
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-799-7233. You can also chat with an advocate online or text “START” to 88788.
• Kentucky’s 15 local domestic violence programs are listed here. Each program has a 24-hour hotline and offers services such as emergency shelter, court assistance and counseling.
• For victims of sexual assault, RAINN has a 24-hour national hotline (800-656-4673) and online chat, as well as information and resources for advocates, victims and their families.
• Kentucky’s 13 local sexual assault programs and crisis centers provide free and confidential services to people of all ages, including counseling, support and referrals.
• Teens who are experiencing dating violence, have relationship questions or need support can visit loveisrespect.org, which has a 24-hour hotline at 1-866-331-9474, online chat or text “LOVEIS” to 22522.
• Information about safety plans is available here and information about applying for an emergency protective order is available here.
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