According to the newly released annual Domestic Violence Homicide Report, 85 people in Wisconsin lost their lives to domestic violence (DV) in 2023. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (End Abuse) Executive Director Monique Minkens announced the release of the report during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and as major federal funding cuts actively impact programs and survivors across the state.
“Programs serving victims and survivors across Wisconsin,” said Minkens, “are scrambling to navigate a devastating 70% drop in federal funding that we all have known was coming. These are agencies offering lifesaving measures to those facing violence – shelter, advocacy, legal assistance, economic supports, housing, culturally specific services, and prevention. They’re being forced to cut staff, reduce availability and services, and in some cases, close their doors entirely.”
End Abuse has produced the annual report since 2000, with the intention of honoring victims’ lives, drawing attention to the pervasiveness of domestic violence, and catalyzing improvements.
With 2022 marking the highest total at 96 deaths, 2023 marks the second highest total since End Abuse began releasing the data in 2000. In 2023, domestic violence homicides took place in 22 WI counties. Approximately 42% of the homicide incidents occurred in rural areas and 58% in urban areas, with a rate of 1 death every 4.3 days and an average age of victims being 41 years old.
Past reports’ patterns re-emerge in the latest report. In 2023, 77.7% of perpetrators were male, reflecting that most perpetrators of domestic violence homicide are male. As in past years, firearms remain the most common means of perpetrating domestic violence homicides. Firearms were the weapons used in 78% of domestic violence deaths in 2023.
The report, as in past years, also reflects the connection between homicidality and suicidality in domestic violence cases with 17 perpetrator suicides – 12 murder-suicides, and 5 other perpetrator suicides – in 2023.
In addition to data on 2023 homicides, the report offers historical, national, and global context and spotlights major issues impacting domestic violence in Wisconsin, and the impact of funding cuts on programs and survivors.
“Wisconsin is among the worst states in the country for victims of domestic violence,” said Minkens. “We’re seeing a public health crisis, with 1 in every 6 domestic violence homicides occurring in our state. Recent studies have shown that Black women in the U.S. are disproportionately murdered compared with white women, with the highest inequity in Wisconsin. The answer has been and remains simple, year after violent year. Wisconsin is failing domestic violence victims. Show care for survivors by sufficiently resourcing those supporting their needs, or lives will continue to be lost to predictable, preventable violence year after year after year.”
To review the Annual WI Domestic Violence Homicide Report, visit https://bit.ly/2023WiDvHomicideReport. To view past years’ reports, visit www.endabusewi.org/resources
For Media
CONTACT: Elise Buchbinder | Communications Director, End Domestic Abuse WI | eliseb@endabusewi.org
Note to Media: We encourage reporters to include the National Domestic Violence Hotline [1−800−799−SAFE (7233)] and the National Sexual Assault Hotline [1-800-656-4673] in their stories for victims who need help. A list of local Wisconsin domestic violence victim service providers can be found at www.endabusewi.org/get-help. A list of local WI sexual assault victim service providers can be found at www.wcasa.org/survivors/service-providers. A list of local WI Black and Brown culturally-specific domestic violence and sexual assault victim resources can be found at www.bbwpcoalition.org/resources-in-wi
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (End Abuse, www.endabusewi.org) is the leading voice for victims of domestic abuse in Wisconsin. At End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, we educate shelter and program volunteers and advocates, law enforcement, legislators, and community members to provide safety and support to survivors. We strive to shift Wisconsin from the attitudes and beliefs that cause domestic violence to values of mutual respect and equity, and we partner with communities in the effort to prevent and end domestic abuse.