The extent of domestic violence as a public safety and public health issue in the District of Columbia is staggering.
- In 2010, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received 30,201 domestic-related crime calls—approximately 85 calls every 24 hours or one call every 16 minutes.
- In 2010, a total of 5,496 clients visited DC’s two Domestic Violence Intake Centers (DVICs)—an average of 21 clients each business day.
- In the entire District of Columbia, there are only 96 shelter beds for domestic violence victims and their children. In 2010, SAFE provided emergency shelter in local hotels, when no conventional shelter space was available, for 320 adults and approximately 544 children. The average length of stay was 3 nights per family.
- In 2010, SAFE’s Court Advocacy Program (CAP) Advocates provided extensive crisis support and advocacy services to 3,965 victims through a total of 11,303 client contacts—an increase of 26% over 2009 in number of clients served.
- In 2010, SAFE’s OCAP Advocates provided after-hours assistance to 1,711 survivors.
- Since the Lethality Assessment Project started in 2009, domestic violence homicides in the District of Columbia have been cut in half. In 2009, there were 21 victims of domestic violence homicide. In 2010, there were 12 victims of domestic violence homicide.