Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Domestic Violence Accounts for Almost Half of NYC Women's Murders
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 9, 2008
Modified Sep 9, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 9, 2008
Modified Sep 9, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Health Department issued a report about "Intimate Partner Violence" in NYC, and, between 2003 and 2005, 44% of all women murdered were killed by intimate partners. The Health Department also noted that domestic violence also accounted for nearly 4,000 visits to the ER.
Those most at risk appear to be women in their 20s, black women, and women in low-income areas. Additionally, ERs most commonly see women who have been punched or kicked, but most fatalities are from stabbings or shootings. Most of the violence occurs in the home, and the Health Department reports, "Some 15% of the women killed had active orders of protection against partners, but most medical records lack information on whether victims have sought help from the police or the courts; contact with police was mentioned in only 23% of hospitalized cases." You can read the entire report here (PDF).
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden said, Every act of intimate partner violence is a crime and a tragedy. No woman should be threatened or abused, let alone in her home or by her partner. If someone is abusing you – or you’re worried about a friend or family member – please call 311 or 800-621-HOPE (621-4673). Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.” The Health Department, NYPD, and Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence are working on ways to identify and prevent domestic violence, like creating screening kits for health care providers, arranging security surveys of victims' homes, and teaching young people about healthy relationships.
Tagged
deaths
department of health
domestic violence
intimate partner violence
murder
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYCHA says it's removed asbestos found at Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses
A steam leak left asbestos-laden residue on some of the exterior walls at the public housing complex in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 30, 2026
'It is a crime!': Upper West Side owl lovers outraged after rooftop work wrecks nest
The owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
By
Carol Chen
News
'It is a crime!': Upper West Side owl lovers outraged after rooftop work wrecks nest
The owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
By
Carol Chen
Police search several blocks in Canarsie after dead man’s body found
By
Charles Lane
NY unemployment recipients brace for delays during system upgrade
By
Jon Campbell
and
Carol Chen
Influential Brooklyn developer illegally raised rents despite tax break, lawsuit claims
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .