demographic profile of the victims and perpetrators of domestic homicide

The purpose of this study, which covers the 1992-1994 period, was to review the scientific literature on domestic abuse, to define the magnitude of fatal domestic abuse in Broward County, to analyze the demographic characteristics of the victims and their assailants and to evaluate the legal processing of charges by the organs of the local Administration of Justice. The sources of information which were used included the files of the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office, data provided by the Broward County State Attorney's Office and the Department of Corrections and the records of Women in Distress, a volunteer advocacy group for abused women. Findings revealed that 42 women were victims of domestic homicide during this three year period. A demographic profile of these women showed they were mostly black, high school educated and in their 30s. The majority were shot by their less educated male partners/husbands with prior arrest records between May and August.