The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation today released a study that analyzed the state’s domestic violence crime data as reported by law enforcement agencies through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS) program in an effort to gain more insight into the problem of domestic violence in Tennessee. The report analyzes offense data flagged as domestic related from 2010 through 2012 and shows a 3.4 percent decrease in offenses reported during that time period; a .4 percent drop from 2010 to 2011 and a 2.9 percent decrease from 2011 to 2012.
A count of domestic violence victims reported from 2010 to 2012 in the state of Tennessee where the gender of the victim was known totaled 252,288. The majority of the victims were female at nearly 72 percent, outnumbering male victims almost three to one. A total of 25,156 juveniles were reported as victims and account for approximately 10 percent of all victims. Due to the nature of the close personal relationships between victim and offender, it is believed there is an underreporting of domestically related offenses.
The offenses analyzed for the study included murder/non-negligent homicide, kidnapping/abduction, forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, forcible fondling, aggravated assault, simple assault, intimidation, stalking, incest and statutory rape. Simple assault accounted for the greatest majority of all domestic offenses at 69.2 percent.
Tennessee Domestic Violence Report 2010-2012 Quick Facts
- Homicides determined to be the result of domestic violence decreased by approximately 22 percent with 80 homicides reported in 2012 compared with 92 in 2010.
- After simple assault, intimidation and aggravated assault were the second and third most frequently reported offense.
- The greatest year to year percent change was identified as the offense of incest which increased by almost 86 percent from 2011 to 2012.
- Approximately 55 percent of the domestic violence incidents reported during the study period were cleared. Of those offenses that were cleared, 81.5 percent were cleared through arrest and 18.5 percent were cleared exceptionally. The majority of exceptional clearances, approximately 83 percent were documented as the victim refused to cooperate typically due to the close relationship that exists between victims and offenders.
Tennessee’s crime statistics data and its analysis act as a tool for local and state law enforcement as well as social and children’s services to advocate for its victims. The current assessment exposes the continuing need for prevention training, intervention, shelter and counseling for victims and potential victims of domestic violence. The study was prepared by TBI’s CJIS Support Center.
Click here to read the Tennessee Domestic Violence Report 2010-20112 in its entirety.
Source:
Kristin Helm, Public Information Officer - Tennessee Bureau of Investigation