SECTION X
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
185
186
187
The following pages of narrative and graphics in this chapter are the result of gathered data displaying the complexities of
domestic violence found within the State of New Jersey. (NOTE: Legislation effective November 12, 1991, added terroristic threats and
criminal trespass as domestic violence offenses. Additionally, legislation enacted August 11, 1994, added stalking as a domestic
violence offense. This 1994 legislation also expanded domestic violence protection to persons involved in a dating relationship.
These legislative changes will effect comparisons of the volume of reported domestic violence acts.) It is through analysis of this data
that, hopefully, the keys to preventing future violence can be found.
Improvements since the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act are continuing; serious concern has been displayed within
many municipal and county agencies whereby various committees and working groups have been formed to help battle this important
problem. Revised investigation and reporting procedures by the police; improved processing of domestic complaints by the courts;
mandatory in-service training for police and court personnel have all enabled the victim to come forward and implement the
constitutional rights granted to all Americans.
In 1982, the Domestic Violence Act was instituted to protect battered victims and study the complex problems that spark such
aggressive behavior. This legislation also provided the opportunity to identify the causes of violence in the home and put forth a more
comprehensive effort to combat the crime of Domestic Violence.
The violence within the American domicile has been recognized for decades by elements of government and society with little
done to correct the problem. Only recently has this phenomenon begun to receive the attention it deserves. In an effort to understand,
identify and treat the incidents of abuse occurring in the home, the State of New Jersey, through its legislature, has provided the
means to gain a meaningful insight into this issue.
INTRODUCTION
Murders increased 45% in 1995 (61) when compared to 1994 (42).
Assaults accounted for 53% (45,509) and harassment accounted for 34% (29,139) of the reported offenses in 1995.
Arrests were made in 34% (29,061) of the offenses reported for 1995, an increase of 15% when compared to 1994
(25,364).
The most frequent day of domestic violence occurrences was Sunday (15,796).
For the thirteenth consecutive year, the most frequent hours of domestic violence incidents were between 8:00 p.m. and
midnight, when 29% (25,547) of the offenses were reported.
Children were involved or present during 45% of all domestic violence offenses occurring in 1995. Specifically, 7% (5,993)
were involved and 38% (32,823) were present.
Wives were the victims in 25% (21,842) and ex-wives were the victims in 3% (2,462) of the reported domestic violence
offenses in 1995. Overall, females were victims in 81% (70,042) of all domestic violence offenses.
The number of domestic violence complaints that had prior court orders issued against the offender increased from 17,007
in 1994 to 19,747 in 1995. This is an increase of 16%.
Alcohol and/or drugs were involved in 37% (32,197) of the reported offenses occurring in 1995. Alcohol involvement alone
accounted for 32% (27,512) of the total domestic violence offenses reported.
Persons age 60 or over were victims in 3% (2,607) of all reported domestic violence offenses that occurred in 1995.
Domestic Violence does not occur at a regular frequency, but when viewed as a ratio of its occurrence to a fixed time interval,
one act of domestic violence would occur every six (6) minutes and forty-two (42) seconds.
Domestic Violence offenses arising from a dating relationship accounted for 8% (6,946) of the state total. Five of these
offenses were murder.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
188
There were 86,631 domestic violence offenses reported by the police in 1995, a 22% increase compared to the 70,991
reported in 1994.
•
Highlights of the 1995 domestic violence statistics are listed below:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Domestic Violence
Offense
189
Number of
PNumber of
PPercent of Offenses
Offenses
Arrests
Involving an Arrest
1994
42
30
71
Homicide
1995
61
48
79
45
60
10
Percent Change
1994
39,047
19,306
49
Assault
1995
45,509
21,952
48
17
14
-2
Percent Change
1994
4,414
1,255
28
Terroristic Threats
1995
5,348
1,438
27
21
15
-5
Percent Change
1994
33
9
27
Kidnapping
1995
25
7
28
-24
&
3
Percent Change
1994
85
28
33
Criminal Restraint
1995
110
42
38
29
50
16
Percent Change
1994
18
4
22
False Imprisonment
1995
33
13
39
83
&
77
Percent Change
1994
118
50
42
Sexual Assault
1995
195
78
40
65
56
-6
Percent Change
1994
32
13
41
Criminal Sexual Contact
1995
46
22
48
44
69
18
Percent Change
1994
14
4
29
Lewdness
1995
19
8
42
36
&
47
Percent Change
1994
3,546
1,191
34
Criminal Mischief
1995
4,397
1,417
32
24
19
-4
Percent Change
1994
496
144
29
Burglary
1995
627
182
29
26
26
Percent Change
1994
658
321
49
Criminal Trespass
1995
839
359
43
28
12
-12
Percent Change
1994
22,488
3,009
13
Harassment
1995
29,139
3,426
12
30
14
-12
Percent Change
1994
StalkingR
1995
283
69
24
Percent Change
1994
70,991
25,364
36
TOTAL
1995
86,631
29,061
34
22
15
-6
Percent Change
P Incidents are reported soon after they occur; therefore, arrests made after that time are not included.
& Percent not calculated due to small volume.
R Domestic Violence offense of Stalking was first reported during 1995.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES/ARRESTS 1994/1995
3
8
2
3
3
3
4
2
4
1
7
9
1
1
3
7
1
4
3
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
Bergen
Burlington
Camden
Cape May
Cumberland
Essex
Gloucester
Hudson
Hunterdon
Mercer
Homicide
1994
1995
Year
Atlantic
County
1,578
1,952
180
190
3,188
3,773
1,304
1,481
5,251
6,073
1,358
1,637
664
860
3,686
4,596
1,831
2,046
2,383
2,813
1,873
2,264
Assault
190
51
60
13
24
428
586
110
128
783
1,058
139
136
60
55
254
281
94
113
368
413
187
242
Terroristic
Threats
1
2
-
5
5
1
4
6
3
3
1
4
-
1
-
2
1
1
-
Kidnapping
2
3
2
2
5
9
2
12
7
6
1
2
6
4
7
19
3
5
7
6
4
4
Criminal
Restraint
2
5
-
2
1
1
-
4
-
1
1
2
2
1
3
3
2
False
Imprisonment
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY COUNTY
1994/1995
7
7
3
1
10
19
1
2
19
33
8
14
2
4
8
23
2
8
7
6
6
9
Sexual
Assault
1
1
3
2
1
1
3
4
1
1
1
-
2
2
3
3
3
2
4
5
5
1
8
1
3
-
Lewdness
1
2
Criminal
Sexual
Contact
219
260
10
12
183
275
133
175
255
340
131
179
62
69
444
581
127
165
137
189
172
215
Criminal
Mischief
27
16
1
1
48
65
7
9
94
125
18
29
4
4
65
104
8
15
24
23
16
22
Burglary
191
33
37
7
5
31
32
23
41
47
38
15
30
41
39
66
81
35
49
86
98
16
27
Criminal
Trespass
863
1,097
153
210
1,159
1,616
648
720
764
950
481
644
744
937
2,725
3,686
1,115
1,477
1,771
2,370
1,560
2,229
Harassment
11
4
22
5
29
6
12
20
10
27
11
Stalking
2,790
3,453
371
450
5,063
6,419
2,231
2,575
7,239
8,675
2,163
2,687
1,584
1,988
7,268
9,398
3,221
3,895
4,793
5,957
3,839
5,036
County
Total
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY COUNTY
1994/1995
24
21
27
15
20
24
26
29
21
24
31
Percent
Change
4
2
4
4
2
1
4
5
2
1
5
42
61
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
1994
1995
Monmouth
Morris
Ocean
Passaic
Salem
Somerset
Sussex
Union
Warren
TOTAL
Homicide
1994
1995
Year
Middlesex
County
39,047
45,509
275
301
3,032
3,240
401
461
940
901
382
520
2,154
2,383
1,981
2,447
1,159
1,292
2,729
3,130
2,698
3,149
Assault
192
4,414
5,348
25
41
354
366
43
66
24
34
16
21
322
347
327
403
139
182
259
308
418
484
Terroristic
Threats
33
25
-
2
-
-
1
-
1
2
2
1
-
3
-
4
2
Kidnapping
85
110
2
3
1
-
4
1
-
3
10
6
5
5
4
7
8
11
7
Criminal
Restraint
18
33
-
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
-
2
1
2
3
3
False
Imprisonment
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY COUNTY
1994/1995
118
195
1
7
7
2
2
5
3
2
2
5
8
5
10
4
4
4
13
11
19
Sexual
Assault
2
1
1
2
1
4
2
1
14
19
1
3
1
1
1
5
2
3
1
2
1
2
4
1
1
32
46
Lewdness
3
1
Criminal
Sexual
Contact
3,546
4,397
28
49
287
288
47
59
175
173
44
54
141
149
195
268
106
145
345
338
305
414
Criminal
Mischief
496
627
1
1
44
53
3
2
4
5
4
4
22
29
28
37
6
9
38
36
34
38
Burglary
193
658
839
2
3
44
44
12
14
23
31
7
9
26
34
37
57
24
36
56
70
27
64
Criminal
Trespass
22,488
29,139
241
246
1,476
1,910
497
590
1,037
1,334
233
317
807
1,089
1,705
2,089
858
1,149
2,114
2,569
1,537
1,910
Harassment
0
283
3
11
7
1
1
14
27
12
25
25
Stalking
70,991
86,631
573
648
5,254
5,931
1,005
1,204
2,216
2,487
689
929
3,484
4,079
4,289
5,355
2,308
2,837
5,561
6,508
5,050
6,120
County
Total
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY COUNTY
1994/1995
22
13
13
20
12
35
17
25
23
17
21
Percent
Change
48
6
54
11
33
11
1
885
101
2,740
-
20
120
32
82
19
8
2,768
382
17,887
-
Kidnapping
Criminal Restraint
False Imprisonment
Sexual Assault
Criminal Sexual
Contact
Lewdness
48
-
15,372
478
293
2,553
6
25
92
28
82
14
3,026
-
2,243
225
72
854
1
10
41
10
31
4
954
30,292 15,227
60
35
-
19,930
560
418
3,237
11
28
122
21
93
15
3,999
-
2,754
248
127
1,121
5
17
53
10
33
5
1,219
37,760 18,488
54
30
-
22,488
658
496
3,546
14
32
118
18
85
33
4,414
-
3,009
321
144
1,191
4
13
50
4
28
9
1,255
39,047 19,306
42
48
283
29,139
839
627
4,397
19
46
195
33
110
25
5,348
69
3,426
359
182
1,417
8
22
78
13
42
7
1,438
45,509 21,952
61
The violent crimes of homicide (61), aggravated assault (6,648), and sexual assault (195) accounted for 8 % of reported
domestic violence offenses (86,631).
•
194
Arrests for domestic violence offenses increased 15%, and reflected the highest number of arrests since the inception of the
Domestic Violence Program.
•
TOTAL
55,698 19,127 52,321 19,720 66,248 24,115 70,991 25,364 86,631 29,061
R Domestic Violence offenses of Terroristic Threats and Criminal Trespass were first reported during 1992. Stalking was first
reported in 1995.
StalkingR
Harassment
Criminal TrespassR
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Terroristic ThreatsR
-
34,319 15,237
61
-
Assault
Homicide
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Domestic Violence
Offense
Offenses Arrests Offenses Arrests Offenses Arrests Offenses Arrests Offenses Arrests
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES/ARRESTS
1991 Through 1995
Percent Change
Percent Change
36,914
47,098
28
70,991
86,631
22
32,333
41,278
28
195
Serious injuries were reported in 3,638 offenses a 15% increase when compared to the 3,177 reported in 1994.
30,900
35,895
16
32,333
41,278
28
33,834
40,036
18
•
3,177
3,638
15
1994
1995
-
4,053
5,314
31
2,346
2,622
12
Domestic violence offenses involving hands, fists, feet, etc. increased 18%, from 33,834 in 1994 to 40,036 in 1995.
-
1994
1995
28,297
33,023
17
187
203
9
2,068
2,224
8
•
1,484
1,699
14
1994
1995
1,496
1,668
11
248
217
-13
410
471
15
TOTAL
Of all the domestic violence offenses involving weapons (45,353), hands, fists, feet, etc. were used in 88% (40,036) of these
offenses.
663
751
13
1994
1995
979
1,056
8
93
86
-8
None
•
841
951
13
1994
1995
128
148
16
Non-Aggravated
Minor
Forty-six percent (39,533) of all domestic violence complaints resulted in injury. This is a 16% increase when compared to
the 34,077 that occurred in 1994.
Percent Change
Percent Change
189
237
25
1994
1995
Aggravated
Serious
•
TOTAL
None
Percent Change
Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.
Percent Change
Other Dangerous Weapon
Knife
Gun
Type of Weapon
Extent of Injury
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY TYPE OF WEAPON
AND EXTENT OF INJURY
1994/1995
6
2
1
1
6
4
1
31
104
5
26
14
63
315
1,212
1
2
1
30
13
1
41
7
1
6
250
868
14
84
28
149
1,619
8,287
6
48
4,570
21,842
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Kidnapping
Criminal Restraint
False Imprisonment
Sexual Assault
Criminal Sexual Contact
Lewdness
Criminal Mischief
Burglary
Criminal Trespass
Harassment
Stalking
TOTAL
26,412
43
291
178
1,451
Male
Female
Terroristic Threats
GRAND TOTAL
182
725
2,470
10,841
Male
Female
Assault
3,054
592
2,462
1
20
1
1
15
Exspouse
Male
Female
Spouse
Homicide
Type of Offense
4
196
13,524
1,828
11,696
2
25
585
3,258
9
105
10
102
142
523
-
4
16
5
1
19
1
8
64
752
1,014
6,875
Coparent
10,199
3,515
6,684
1
5
1,043
2,247
50
108
29
85
184
503
1
6
9
2
12
-
2
5
2
235
503
1,962
3,191
6
8
Relative
23,976
4,460
19,516
4
40
1,235
5,519
35
105
18
70
247
891
4
1
15
2
73
9
1
27
2
148
795
2,759
11,955
10
11
Friend
Relationship of Victim to Offender
19
42
Total
166
673
106
521
1,046
3,351
2
17
1
45
5
190
1
32
5
105
2
23
764
4,584
26
257
9,466
-
1,624 16,589
7,842 70,042
12
119
719 5,516
3,100 23,623
30
143
30
154
192
462
-
6
42
4
22
3
96
792
543 8,930
2,992 36,579
2
3
Ex-friend
86,631
-
283
29,139
839
627
4,397
19
46
195
33
110
25
5,348
45,509
61
Total
Number
of
Offenses
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY TYPE & SEX OF VICTIM
1995
6
20
8
51
15
3
1,512
101
210
8,019
38
25
110
33
195
46
19
4,397
627
839
29,139
283
Kidnapping
Criminal Restraint
False Imprisonment
Sexual Assault
Criminal Sexual Contact
Lewdness
Burglary
Criminal Trespass
37
15
31
32
28
40
37
39
33
24
28
28
32
42
38
197
Thirty-seven percent (32,197) of the reported acts of domestic violence (86,631) involved the use of drugs or alcohol.
32,197
43
9,172
267
178
1,778
7
18
64
8
31
7
1,711
18,890
23
•
2,515
1
588
29
22
140
1
3
8
-
9
-
251
1,460
3
Percent of Offenses
Involving Alcohol
or Drugs
Drugs or alcohol were involved in 38% (61) of the reported domestic violence offenses of homicides.
2,170
4
565
28
55
126
3
-
5
-
2
1
220
1,154
7
Total Alcohol
Both
Only Drugs Alcohol and and Drugs
Drugs
•
* Indicates alcohol or drug use by either victim or offender.
TOTAL
Stalking
Harassment
Criminal Mischief
27,512
1,240
5,348
Terroristic Threats
86,631
16,276
45,509
Homicide
Assault
Only
Alcohol
13
Total Number
of Offenses
61
Domestic Violence
Offense
Substance Involved
ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(Alcohol or Drugs Involved)*
1995
10
1
1
84
-
3
1
1
178
26
63
1,115
1
Kidnapping
Criminal Restraint
False Imprisonment
Sexual Assault
Criminal Sexual Contact
Lewdness
Criminal Mischief
Burglary
Criminal Trespass
1
216
3
-
11
-
-
-
-
1
-
34
211
2
20
6
37
-
-
-
-
-
-
51
-
-
458
30
13
83
-
1
-
-
2
-
83
327
5
-
-
34
3
2
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
57
M
1
-
42
1
1
4
-
-
1
-
-
-
9
61
F
1
1
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
9
-
198
Persons age 60 or over were the victims in 3% (2,607) of all the reported domestic violence offenses during this period.
42
-
22
M
•
86 502 1,002 103 120
-
33 192
1
1
13
-
-
-
-
-
-
13
25 194
-
F
-
7
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
3
-
15
F
Ex-friend
Females, age 60 or over were the victims in 66% (1,721) of the 2,607 elderly abuse offenses.
28
-
13
1
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
-
M
Friend
•
17
-
9
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
5
-
F
Relative
Assaults accounted for 38% (995) of all domestic violence offenses for victims 60 years old or over.
12
-
5
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
-
M
Co-parent
•
TOTAL
Stalking
4
199 481
6
211
Terroristic Threats
2,607
96
995
Assault
Harassment
1
13
F
M
M
F
Ex-spouse
Relationship of Victim to Offender
Spouse
Homicide
Domestic Violence
Offense
Total
Number of
Offenses
OFFENSES AGAINST ELDERLY VICTIMS
(60 Years of age or over)
1995
•
199
During 1995, 57% (49,516) of the reported Domestic Violence offenses occurred between 8:00 p.m. and 12 midnight.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY TIME OF DAY
1994/1995
During 1995, 35% (30,579) of the reported domestic violence offenses occurred during the weekend (Saturday and
Sunday).
•
200
Sunday recorded the highest number of occurrences in 1995 with 15,796 offenses.
•
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY DAY OF WEEK
1994/1995
During 1995, the month with the lowest number of reported domestic violence offenses was February.
•
201
In 1995, the highest number of domestic violence offenses occurred during the months of July and August.
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENSES BY MONTH OF YEAR
1994/1995