Michigan and Washington

MICHIGAN

About 4 out of every 10 females seen in emergency departments for injuries related to assault were there because of intimate partner violence.

WASHINGTON

In 2006, 47% of domestic violence homicides occurred AFTER the victim had left, divorced, separated, or was planning on breaking up with the abuser.

This means women are in just as much danger WHEN leaving and AFTER leaving as they are IN the relationship.

Doubling up! Texas and Delaware

DEMi fans we are excited to ramp up production on this awareness project. For the next 10 days we will feature 2 states PER DAY.


DELAWARE

In Delaware, 16.7% of criminal domestic violence incidents resulted in actual injury.

TEXAS More than 27% of the young people in Texas have been victims of physical dating violence. If you include emotional and verbal abuse, the rate rises to nearly 50%. This means roughly 50% of the ENTIRE population of the largest state in the continental US is already in a domestic violence situation at least once before they even reach the age of 30.

Arkansas

Arkansas consistently ranks among the top three states for domestic homicides. It is also ranked FIRST for domestic violence homicides against African-American women.

There are NO health care statutes in the areas of domestic violence training, screening, protocol, or insurance discrimination. There are also NO current laws requiring unemployment insurance for victims meaning that victims forced to flee for their lives who lose their jobs may not receive any benefits.

Wyoming

In 2004, the majority of domestic violence victims were between the ages of 18 and 29.

Missouri

In 2001, 10% of female high school students in Missouri reported having been forced to have sexual intercourse and over 16% of seniors reported forced sexual intercourse.

Connecticut

In 2005, 40% of all reported domestic violence was viewed by or directly involved a CHILD. This means 8,041 children watched or were part of one person they loved ABUSING another.

Statistics show that at LEAST 50% of these children will grow up to be abusers and/or abused themselves. They don't HAVE positive role models for what a real, true, loving relationship looks like and the scars of domestic violence run deep.

For the sake of these children, PLEASE, help D.E.M.i. stop domestic violence in this lifetime. Help us END THE CYCLE of abuse.

Rhode Island

Despite new programs and increased awareness about domestic violence, Rhode Island health care professionals STILL do not routinely screen their clients for domestic violence. This prevents cases from being detected and victims from getting help when they are already removed from the situation and in a safer environment.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, 40% of ALL crimes against persons and 50% of ALL simple assaults are crimes of domestic violence.

New Mexico

The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey states that 12% of high school students reported that a boyfriend or girlfriend had hit, slapped, or physically hurt them on purpose while 11% of students reported being physically forced to have sexual intercourse when they didn't want to.

According to domestic violence service providers, 30% of children victim-witnesses in New Mexico experienced physical abuse and 5% experienced sexual abuse.

In 58% of domestic violence incidents in 2003 children were present at the scene.

72% of the children who witnessed a domestic violence incident was 12 years old and under.

56% of adult domestic violence victims and 59% of their offenders in New Mexico report that they were abused as children.

Maryland

The relationship between perpetrator and victim in domestic violence in 2006:

43% - females assaulted by male cohabitants
32% - wife of the aggressor
12% - males assaulted by female cohabitants
11% - husband of aggressor
2% - same sex relationship

Notice a pattern here? Let's add 43, 32, 12, 11, and 2. It equals 100%.

100% either lived with, were in a relationship with, or were married to their aggressor.

Ohio

135,645 people received domestic violence services in 2006. However, only 20,608 cases were actually filed.

Arkansas

The state of Arkansas ranks among the top three states for domestic homicides in America. Surprisingly, it is also the ranked first in the domestic violence homicides of African American women in the United States.

Lacking in funding and resources, the organizations assisting both sexual assault and domestic violence victims are forced to turn away hundreds of victims every year. There are no health care statutes for domestic violence screening and protocol and no insurance discrimination laws making the availability of health care to victims difficult to obtain. There are also no laws for those who become unemployed to due domestic violence. Victims who must leave their jobs to save their lives and the lives of their children are not eligible for benefits making it impossible for many to leave their circumstances.

DEMi calls on the people of Arkansas and America to stand up and fight against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Pass legislation that matters and will make a difference in these victims lives and save the lives of these victims. Stand with DEMi today and say, "We are standing up for those who cannot."

West Virginia

18% of all crime victims in the state of West Virginia are domestic violence victims.

Of those victims, 30% of domestic violence assaults were committed between spouses or common law spouses and 31% were between intimate partners or dating relationships.

1 in 5.6 murders that are a result of domestic violence in West Virginia are CHILDREN.

Alaska

According to DEMi's research, nearly 75% of Alaskans have experienced personally or know someone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

DEMi was shocked to learn that the Alaska rape rate is 2.5 times the national average.

What scared us the most, however, is the fact that child sexual assault in Alaska is nearly 6 times the national average.

CHILDREN are being abused at 6 times the national rate in an area where 30% of them can't even access victim services because there are no services available in their area.

At the same time, we need to tip our hats off to Alaskans. Nearly 90% of them would vote to increase funding for victim service programs and over 90% would support increased penalities for domestic violence and sexual assault perpetrators.

Help Alaska save it's children today. Help DEMi stop the sexual abuse of children in their home.

Arizona

Every 44 minutes in Arizona, one or more children witness a domestic violence incident.

New York

The most common relationship between perpetrator and victim in New York is marriage.

California

California law enforcement received 176,299 domestic violence-related calls in 2006. 80,946 of the calls involved weapons, including firearms and knives.

In California, one forcible rape occurs every 56 minutes.

Mississippi

Mississippi ranks 2nd highest in the nation for domestic violence.

But let's get down to the "real deal".

Who is putting these people in danger?

In the instance of women, for homicides in which the victim to offender relationship was able to be identified, 100% of female homicide victims in Mississippi in 2003 were murdered by SOMEONE THEY KNEW.

White House Adviser on Violence Against Women

DEMi was shocked to learn that President Obama has created a new post, White House Adviser on Violence Against Women, to address the problem of domestic violence in this country.

While this post is, in some ways, a large step forward and a show of dedication to fight domestic violence, it ignores a very large portion of the abused. MEN.

DEMi implores the White House to either make this a White House Adviser on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault or to create an equal position of importance of a White House Adviser on Violence Against Men. To ignore the millions of men in this country who already suffer in silence is a direct affront to them and those who love and support them.

For more information on this new post and the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal who will now report directly to the President and Vice President regarding violence issues, please check out this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/opinion/01wed4.html?emc=eta1

Vermont

Over the past 10 years in Vermont, 50% of ALL homicides in Vermont were domestic violence related.

Over the past 10 YEARS. This is a long term trend not a one year statistic.

Clearly our friends in Vermont are in need of a safe way to get away.

Even more shocking is that 95% of ALL violent crimes were committed by an intimate partner, acquaintance, or family member in 2006.

ALL violent crimes.

Stand up and fight for those who are not yet able to fight for themselves. Join DEMi in our fight to end domestic violence in this lifetime.