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as Chapter IV: Violence Against Women ~ Domestic Violence Domestic violence is a serious, widespread social problem in our country and in our state. Nearly 25% of American women report being raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime, according to the National Violence Against Women Surveys Women of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds are vulnerable to violence by an intimate partner. In North Carolina, local domestic violence programs responded to over 104,000 crisis calls and provided services to over 50,000 victims in FY 04-05, a 42% increase since 1997.2 Without appropriate intervention and services, domestic violence often escalates into homicide. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every days In North Carolina, 82 domestic violence related homicides were reported in 2004 and 69 homicides were reported in 2005 a North Carolina ranked 16th in the nation for the number of per capita homicides committed by men against women in 2003, according to the Violence Policy Centers North Carolina has made tremendous progress in recent years, including landmark legislation that was passed in 2004 through the efforts of the House Select Committee on Domestic Violence. This legislation created a new felony crime of non-fatal strangulation, enhanced safety for children by improving custody laws, and mandated training for law enforcement. In 2005, North Carolina became the 2na state in the nation to pass comprehensive tenancy laws to protect victims. These important efforts are being continued through the work of the Joint Legislative Committee on Domestic Violence appointed in 2006. The Joint Committee has proposed legislation to increase funding for the following: 1) shelter construction to meet the demand for shelter space; 2) visitation centers so that visitation can occur in a safe setting; and 3) family courts. In addition, the Joint Committee has recommended legislation that would increase the penalty for a second violation of a protective order to a felony. Some of the additional issues that we hope to address in the 2007 session include: increased funding for domestic violence programs, TANF, and the Housing Trust Fund to improve services to Work First participants and increase access to affordable housing; equal access and protection under Chapter SOB for all victims of domestic violence; strengthening criminal penalties for domestic violence; and requiring probationary sentences for offenders to be supervised to improve safety and accountability. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION... • Support the recommendations, ofthe Joint Legislative Committee on Domestic Violence. • Support the Legislative Agenda of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.nccadv.or~). r The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Institute of Justice, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence, July 2000. ' z North Cnrolina Council for Women, Domestic Violence Stntistical Report, 2004-05. s In 2000, approximately 1,687 murders were attributed to intimates, and 1,247 victims were women. US Department of Justice, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, http;//www.ojp.usdoj.aov/bjs/abstrnct/ipvOl.htm. " Dnta collected by the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence based on news reports across the stnte. 5 Violence Policy Center, When Men Murder Women: An Anolysis of 2003 Homicide Dato, September 2005. 2006-2007 Women's Dr~aftAgenda 18