A recent analysis by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reveals a concerning uptick in domestic violence victims in 2022, with an 8.5% increase in New York City and 8.7% rise in the rest of New York state compared to 2019 statistics. This surge was noted during October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that throughout their lives, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have suffered from intimate partner-related sexual or physical violence or stalking.
The data further delineated that approximately 70% of all domestic violence victims across the state were harmed by an intimate partner. A staggering 80% of these intimate partner victims were female. Disturbingly, women accounted for 54% of domestic homicide victims, a rate nearly quintuple that of non-domestic homicides. Additionally, Black individuals made up a higher proportion of domestic homicide victims at 41%, compared to 28% of White and 22% Hispanic victims.
While calls to the State Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline surged by 32% during 2020-2021, there was a noted 26% hike for the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline. Conversely, other local domestic violence hotlines saw a 40% dip in 2020. Admissions to domestic violence shelters increased by 8% between 2015 and 2019, but a 13% decline was witnessed between 2019 and 2021, possibly attributed to the pandemic. In the backdrop of these statistics, the State Comptroller’s Office is conducting an audit to assess the efficacy of the coordination between agencies in providing essential support to domestic violence victims, with results expected in the upcoming months.
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