Offenses Against Children and Families

Description of Indicator
This indicator measures the number of offenses related to domestic violence (offenses against family and children) over the most recent 10-year period.

Why is it Important?
Domestic violence is an ongoing problem and often endangers the lives of children, but also creates ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences – which affect children into adulthood and the next generation. ACES can affect academic performance, employment, long term mental and physical health, and put children on a path to incarceration.

How is the region performing?
The region is numbers are lower than highs in 2018 and based on the data decreasing annually. It is broadly assumed that the COVID years led to underreporting, thus the trend line may not be accurate. However, decreases from 2022 to 2023 are promising.