Analysis Of Domestic Violence Deaths

A task force that includes researchers from the University of Cincinnati is revealing new findings after examining domestic violence-related deaths in Hamilton County, Ohio, from 1997-2006. Of the 48 people who died of domestic violence over that period, 94 percent of the victims were female, 77 percent were either separated or considering separation from their partner at the time of their death, and 43 percent died of a gunshot wound fired by their spouses. Forty-four percent of the victims died in a bedroom of their home. The majority of the victims, 57 percent, had endured prior abuse and the highest number of victims, 43 percent, was killed by their spouse than any significant other, according to the findings. The report also found that children were present in 28 percent of these tragedies.



The report, "Intimate Partner Homicide: Hamilton County, Ohio 1997-2006," is the result of a Hamilton County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team that examined public information on intimate partner violence that turned deadly. The report was presented at the Hamilton County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council's annual meeting in Sharonville.



Gary Dick, associate professor for the UC School of Social Work, along with his research assistant, Annie Dick, a graduate student in the School of Social Work, and Ann MacDonald, chair of the Fatality Review Team and executive director of Rape & Crisis Abuse Center of Hamilton County, conducted the research in collaboration with police departments and social service agencies to explore future policies and procedures for professionals who work with domestic violence victims, such as counselors, courts and safety officers. Similar studies have been conducted in Chicago, Houston and Boston.



"Our purpose of the research was to determine if the risk factors for intimate homicide in the Cincinnati study were comparable to those found by nationally recognized domestic violence researcher Jacqueline Campbell, who conducted a 12-city study on femicide. Campbell developed the Danger Assessment, a research instrument to determine women's risk for lethality. We found strikingly similar risk factors in the Hamilton County study," says Dick.



Dick says the report held findings about the victims, the perpetrators (52 percent were employed at the time of the murder; 27 percent were on parole or probation) and the couple's history pointing to risk factors for intimate partner homicide, with separation from the abuser ranking among the highest risk factors of all.



Findings on Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide

(Hamilton County, Ohio)



Separated: 77 percent

Substance abuse: 68 percent

Increase in frequency of abuse: 66 percent

Gun involved: 66 percent

Criminal history: 63 percent

Stalking: 53 percent

Prior domestic violence charge: 48 percent

Threats to kill: 46 percent

Prior history child abuse: 41 percent

Threats of suicide: 41 percent

Perpetrator mental illness: 33 percent

Perpetrator bought a weapon: 33 percent

Property damage: 33 percent

Threats with weapons: 32 percent

Previous serious injury: 28 percent

Sexual assault: 24 percent

Strangulation: 22 percent

Violated protection order: 20 percent

Sadistic/hostage acts: 20 percent

Animal abuse: 5 percent