Domestic violence is a crime, and the unfortunate reality is that it impacts people in our own community. The Naperville Police responded to nearly 1,400 incidents of domestic trouble in 2024. Nearly 500 of those incidents involved physical contact.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner. Domestic abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological. It can be actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.
Abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic background, education level, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including people who are married, living together or dating. Victims of domestic violence may also include a child or other relative, or any other household member.
Domestic violence can be experienced in a variety of ways and may look and feel differently at different points. Incidents of domestic violence are rarely isolated, one-time incidents but rather escalate over time and follow a predictable cycle.
Remember, no one deserves to experience abuse of any kind, for any reason.
Many people also do not realize that interfering with the reporting of domestic violence is also a crime. A person commits this violation if, after having committed an act of domestic violence, he or she prevents or attempts to prevent the victim or witness to the crime from calling 9-1-1, obtaining medical assistance or making a report to any law enforcement official.
If you feel that you might be a victim of domestic violence or would like more information for a loved one or friend, the Naperville Police Department is available to offer support, information and guidance.
For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us/DomesticViolence.
Until next month… Stay Aware and Stay Safe.
