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Domestic Violence-Related Deaths Increase

March 27th, 2013

The number of domestic violence-related deaths in Georgia went up in 2012 from the previous year. That’s according to a new report released by the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

According to Georgia’s 2012 Domestic Violence Fatality Review Report, at least 128 Georgians lost their lives last year due to domestic violence. That’s 20 more deaths than in 2011.

That saddens Georgia Commission on Family Violence Program Manager Jennifer Thomas.

“It also says to me that we have a lot more work that we need to be doing to educate the community, and to do a better job of holding offenders accountable, and providing support and assistance to survivors of domestic violence in this state.”

According to the report, guns continue to be leading cause of domestic violence deaths in the state. In 2012, 76 percent of domestic violence related fatalities in Georgia were due to firearms.

The report also says children are greatly affected by domestic violence deaths. Of the cases reviewed in the report, 43 percent of the victims and their perpetrators shared children at the time of the homicide, and children witnessed the homicides in 18 percent of the cases.

Those looking for support or resources in the state can call 1-800-33-HAVEN 24 hours a day.