2016 Domestic Violence Report - njsp.org

1 In New Jersey2016 DOMESTICVIOLENCE THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL Domestic Violence OFFENSE Report 2016 Honorable Gurbir S. Grewal Attorney General State of New Jersey Patrick J. Callahan Colonel New Jersey State Police Major Brandon Gray Commanding Officer Identification & Information Technology Section New Jersey State Police Chief Gary Gubbei Maple Shade Police Department President New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police Prepared by: State of New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety Division of State Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit INTRODUCTION The problem of Violence within the American domicile is not new.

2 What is new is that only recently, has this problem received the attention it deserves. In 1982, the Domestic Violence Act was instituted to protect battered victims and to study the complex problems that spark such aggressive behavior. This legislation also provided the opportunity to identify the causes of Violence in the home and put forth a more comprehensive effort to combat the crime of Domestic Violence . Improvements since the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act are continuing. Pursuant to a change in 2C:25-24 enacted June 9, 1999, arrest data is presented by county. Domestic Violence restraining order violations are also captured and reported. Revised investigation and reporting procedures by the police; improved processing of Domestic complaints by the courts; mandatory in-service training for police and court personnel have all enabled the victim to come forward and implement the constitutional rights granted to all Americans.

3 The narrative and graphics in this chapter are the result of gathered data on the Domestic Violence landscape in New Jersey. It is the goal that the analysis of this data will prevent future Violence . HUGHES JUSTICE COMPLEX TELEPHONE: (609) 292-4925 FAX: (609) 292-3508 New Jersey Is An Equal Opportunity Employer Printed on Recycled Paper and Recyclable OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PHILIP D. MURPHY DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY GURBIR S. GREWAL Governor BOX 080 Attorney General TRENTON, NJ 08625-0080 SHEILA Y. OLIVER Lt. Governor The Honorable Philip D. Murphy Governor of the State of New Jersey Honorable Members of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New Jersey Dear Governor and Members of the Legislature: Pursuant to 2C:25-24, I herewith submit for your information and review the thirty-fourth annual Report on Domestic Violence in New Jersey.

4 The annual Report is based on the Domestic Violence offense reports submitted to the New Jersey Uniform Crime Reporting System by every New Jersey law enforcement agency for the year 2016. It would have been impossible to complete this Report without the cooperation of New Jersey's criminal justice family. It is with appreciation to these dedicated public servants, and in the interest of the thousands of persons in this state who are victims of Domestic disputes, that this thirty-fourth Domestic Violence Report is submitted. Respectfully, Gurbir S. Grewal Attorney General of New Jersey OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PHILIP D. MURPHY DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY GURBIR S. GREWAL Governor DIVISION OF STATE POLICE Attorney General BOX 7068 SHEILA Y.

5 OLIVER WEST TRENTON, NJ 08628-0068 PATRICK J. CALLAHAN Lt. Governor (609) 882-2000 Colonel The Honorable Gurbir S. Grewal Attorney General State of New Jersey Hughes Justice Complex Trenton, New Jersey Dear Attorney General Grewal: Pursuant to 2C:25-24, the thirty-fourth annual Report on Domestic Violence in New Jersey is submitted. This Report contains statistics related to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act. All information is based on Domestic Violence offense reports submitted to the New Jersey Uniform Crime Reporting System by every New Jersey law enforcement agency for the year 2016.

6 The Report contains comparisons and analyses between 2015 and 2016 data. This Report has evolved through the cooperation of all New Jersey law enforcement agencies. It is being forwarded for your information and presentation to the Governor and members of the Legislature. Respectfully, Patrick J. Callahan Colonel Domestic Violence 1 2016 Domestic Violence STATISTICAL SUMMARY Overview of the 2016 Domestic Violence statistics are listed below: There were 63,420 Domestic Violence offenses reported by the police in 2016, a 3 percent increase compared to the 61,659 reported in 2015. Murders increased 6 percent in 2016 (52) when compared to 2015 (49). Assaults accounted for 43 percent (27,222) and harassment accounted for 43 percent (27,256) of the reported offenses in 2016.

7 Arrests were made in 31 percent (19,472) of the offenses reported for 2016, an increase of 1 percent when compared to arrests made in 2015. The most frequent day of the week for Domestic Violence incidents was Sunday (11,022), closely followed by Saturday (10,013). For the thirty-fourth consecutive year, the most frequent hours of Domestic Violence incidents were between 8:00 and midnight, when 26 percent (16,296) of the offenses were reported. Children were actively involved or present during 28 percent of all Domestic Violence offenses occurring in 2016. Specifically, 4 percent (2,441) were actively involved/participated and 24 percent (15,110) were present/witness of the offense. Females were victims in 74 percent (46,949) of all Domestic Violence offenses.

8 The number of Domestic Violence complaints that had prior court orders issued against the offender decreased from 10,484 in 2015 to 10,308 in 2016. This is a decrease of 2 percent. Alcohol and/or drugs were involved in 25 percent (16,010) of the reported offenses occurring in 2016. Alcohol involvement accounted for 22 percent (14,185) of the total offenses reported. Persons age 60 or over (elderly) were victims in 6 percent (3,941) of all reported Domestic Violence offenses that occurred in 2016 and were the victims in 22 percent (12) of the Domestic Violence murders (52). Although, Domestic Violence does not occur at a regular frequency, when viewed as a ratio of its occurrence to a fixed time interval, one act of Domestic Violence would occur every 8 minutes and 29 seconds.

9 Domestic Violence offenses arising from a dating relationship accounted for 15 percent (9,382) of the state total. There were 2,477 total arrests involving Domestic Violence restraining orders reported by police in 2016. Of these, 1,564 were arrests for violations of a restraining order only, while 913 were arrests for violations of a restraining order with an offense arrest. 2 Domestic Violence Domestic Violence OFFENSES/ARRESTS 2015/2016 Domestic Violence Offense Number of Offenses Number of Arrests Percent of Offenses Involving an Arrest 2015 49 36 73 Homicide 2016 52 40

10 77 Percent Change 6 11 5 2015 26,413 13,342 51 Assault 2016 27,222 13,705 50 Percent Change 3 3 -2 2015 2,614 831 32 Terroristic Threats 2016 2.