Community Solutions to Sexual and Domestic Violence: VIRGINIA

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2010 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide in Virginia (2008 Data)

A descriptive analysis of the characteristics and circumstances surrounding family and intimate partner homicide in Virginia, 2008.
Published by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. June, 2010. 57 pages.
 

2012 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Report

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the Virginia Department of Health is making available the 2012 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Report. This report examines characteristics and circumstances of those killed as a result of domestic violence in Virginia in 2012. Some focal points from this report include:

• In 2012, there were 117 Family and Intimate Partner (FIP) homicides in Virginia reflecting a 12.7% decrease from 2011.
• Family and Intimate Partner homicide comprised 34.0% of all homicide in Virginia in 2012.
• Social disparities continued to exist in FIP homicide. Black males had the highest rate of FIP homicide, followed by Black females. 
• Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH) decreased for the second year in a row in 2012; and, for the first time since the beginning of surveillance in 1999, both Intimate Partner and Intimate Partner Associated (IPA) Homicides decreased from the previous year.  IPH involved a victim who was killed by a current or former intimate partner; IPA Homicide victims included bystanders, interveners, and other intimate partners killed in the crossfire of intimate partner violence.
• Other Family (OFH) and Family Associated Homicides (FAH) increased 50% from 2011 to 2012.  OFH involved a victim who was killed by an individual related to them by blood or marriage; FAH victims include those killed as a result of violence stemming from a familial relationship.

Basic information about these deaths for the five year period between 2008 and 2012 is also provided in an appendix. This report is also available along with previous years report here.

2014 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Report

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announces the release of the 2014 Annual Report on Family and Intimate Partner Homicide: A descriptive analysis of the characteristics and circumstances surrounding family and intimate partner homicide in Virginia.
 
This report contains an overview of 2014 data from the Family and Intimate Partner (FIP) Homicide Surveillance Project.  Highlighted findings include:

• 31% of all homicides in 2014 in Virginia were attributed to family and intimate partner violence.  FIP Homicides decreased from 122 in 2013, to 112 in 2014: an 8% decrease, and the lowest number recorded since surveillance began in 1999.
• Firearms were used in 54% of FIP Homicides, a 5% decrease from 2013.
• Despite the majority of FIP Homicide victims being white and female, the highest death rate was among blacks (2.9), with black males dying at a higher rate than any other group (3.3).
• The highest number of FIP Homicides occurred in the Eastern Health Planning Region (31); Richmond City had the highest number of deaths (12) for any one locality.

Domestic Violence Fatality Review

The Commonwealth currently has seventeen local and regional domestic violence fatality review teams. Teams are multidisciplinary, and through stakeholder participation, they review homicides, suicides, and homicide-suicide cases related to domestic violence.  For more information on domestic violence fatality review in Virginia, please visit: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/medExam/dvfr/index.htm

Domestic Violence Homicide Response Plan: A Toolkit for Domestic Violence Programs

Every survivor that domestic violence programs work with is a potential homicide victim. Advocates know this as they work with survivors, advocating on their behalf and building relationships with them and often their families. Domestic violence programs deal with the reality of knowing that a homicide could happen at any time, yet not allowing this knowledge to overpower their work with victims. When this most tragic violation occurs the traumatic impact is profound. This is felt by everyone - no matter the nature of their relationship with the victim. The needs of those closest to the victim, including their children, family and friends are of utmost importance. In addition, domestic violence programs, their clients and staff, and the communities they work within are deeply impacted. A homicide can change organizations and communities forever.

During this time, programs are asked to fulfill a variety of roles and often at the same time are dealing with their own sense of loss. An important part of responding and coping with these events is to realize there is no single “right” answer. Each of these tragedies is as unique as the human being whose life was taken, and all aspects of this person’s life and death need to be acknowledged, respected, and addressed as your program and community decide how to respond. It is also critical for the domestic violence program to utilize the tools and skills of trauma-informed care in their interactions with colleagues and others impacted by the death.

Produced by End Domestic Violence Wisconsin, the objective of this document is to provide a framework for domestic violence programs to develop a plan for how they will respond to a homicide in their community, whether the victim had been a client or not. Additionally, many of the elements of this plan can be adapted for use when programs experience a death of a client in shelter, as often the effects felt are similar.