Domestic Violence Drops by More Than Half

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 3:55 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Specialists are crediting greater public attention to child abuse and other family related violence with helping cause a steep drop in reported domestic crimes.

Between 1993 and 2002, the rate of family violence fell from about 5.4 victims to 2.1 victims per 1,000 residents age 12 and older, according to a Justice Department report released Sunday.

Simple assault was the most frequent type of violent offense. Murder accounted for less than one-half of 1 percent of all family violence between 1998 and 2002 -- the most recent years analyzed for the report.