Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence

 California’s Domestic Violence Advisory Council defines domestic violence as a spectrum and often a pattern of behaviors that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse and/or economic control used by adults or adolescents against their current or former intimate partners in an attempt to exercise power and authority, which has a destructive, harmful effect on individuals, the family and the community.

Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a major public health problem in California that affects all age and socio-economic groups. Data from the State’s Department of Justice shows that in 2010, local law enforcement received 166,361 domestic violence calls for assistance. The 2008 California Women's Health Survey reports that about 6% of women (641,000) in California experienced at least one incident of psychological or physical DV during the last 12 months before responding to the survey.

For additional information, see the links below, or contact IVPB at ivpb@cdph.ca.gov

Public Health Report Explores Violence in California

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released the first in a series of reports focused on violence. Preventing Violence in California Volume 1: The Role of Public Health provides a broad overview of the complex topic of violence prevention. The purpose of this report is to strengthen the understanding of the governmental public health role in violence prevention,  to better address the connections among the different forms of violence, shape future funding initiatives and guide our collaborative efforts with partners across the state. Following issues will delve further into specific topics, including data on forms of violence and prevention strategies. Based on input from local health jurisdictions, forms of violence that will be prioritized in the CDPH reports are child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and gun violence. To obtain a copy of the report, visit the CDPH Violence Prevention Initiative Page.

Note:

• The Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, sponsor of this directory, does not provide direct services for victims or perpetrators of violence. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

• If you are being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 
• If you are a teen being abused call the National Teen Dating Helpline at 1-866-331-9474
• If you have been raped or experienced sexual violence, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673
• Please try to use a safe computer that someone abusive does not have direct access to, or even remote (hacking) access to, such as a computer in a public library, at a trusted friend's house, or at an Internet Cafe.  Also, traditional "corded" phones are more private than cellular phones or cordless phones.​​​