The extent of domestic violence as a public safety and public health issue in the District of Columbia is staggering.
- In 2011, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received 31,140 domestic-related crime calls—approximately 85 calls every 24 hours or one call every 16 minutes.
- In 2011, a total of 5,401 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 2011, SAFE provided emergency shelter in local hotels, when no conventional shelter space was available, for 375 adults and approximately 700 children. The average length of stay was 3 nights per family.
- In 2011, SAFE’s Court Advocacy Program (CAP) Advocates provided extensive crisis support and advocacy services to 3,851 victims through a total of 9,541 client contacts.
- In 2011, SAFE’s OCAP Advocates provided after-hours assistance to 1,963 victims of domestic violence through 5,283 client contacts.
- 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 and 13 victims of domestic violence homicide in 2011.
