Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia - Virginia Attorney General

Source: Domestic Violence Services in Virginia, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Allianceresulted in convictions. A total of 1,486 arrests (47%)resulted in dispositions categorized as deferred, dismissed,or nolle prossed. No court disposition was recorded forthe remaining 589 arrests. 34 (Appendix A)In addition to criminal caseloads, domestic violence casesimpact the civil dockets of our courts and the magistratesystem. In 2007, a total of 24,331 spousal abuse petitionswere initiated in juvenile and domestic relationsdistrict courts across the Commonwealth. This representsroughly 10% of all domestic cases filed. 35 These petitionsinclude initial petitions for family abuse protective orders,as well as motions to amend or dissolve existing orders.In addition to petitions by victims, magistrates across theCommonwealth issued 29,934 emergency protectiveorders for family abuse incidents. 36Services to Victims of Domesticand Sexual ViolenceWhile domestic and sexual violence cases have a distinctimpact on the criminal justice system, these offenses alsoimpact social services. Domestic and sexual violenceservice providers engage in crisis intervention and providehotline, shelter, and advocacy services to thousands ofvictims and their children each year. Among the advocacyservices provided are: education, safety planning, groupand individual counseling, mental health services, accompanimentto court, referral to legal services, financial andhousing assistance, and transportation.In 2007, domestic violence service providers from 47 localprograms, supported by funding from the Departmentof Social Services, responded to 47,526 crisis situations,including 8,728 in-person requests for crisis services and38,798 hotline calls through Virginia domestic violencehotlines. Local programs also provided advocacy servicesto 5,823 adults and 2,823 children. 37Through public and private funding sources, emergencyand temporary shelter services are provided to thousandsof men, women, and children who are victims ofdomestic violence. In 2007, domestic violence shelterprograms provided 314,480 nights of emergency shelterto 3,640 adults and 2,796 children. On an averagenight in 2007, about 861 adults and children stayed in adomestic violence shelter. 38 However, due to a lack ofbed space, not all victims who requested shelter servicesin 2007 were able to secure shelter accommodations. Atotal of 1,759 families who requested shelter services in2007 had to be turned away. 39 (Figure 8) The availabilityof shelter services for all victims requesting shelter continues to pose a problem for local programs.5