Domestic-violence-related homicides in Wisconsin declined slightly in 2008, according to a report released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The Wisconsin Domestic Violence Homicide Report showed 46 deaths related to domestic violence occurred in 2008, compared to 49 in 2007. Thirty-six were homicide victims, and 10 were perpetrators who committed suicide in conjunction with a homicide.
According to the report, perpetrators of domestic violence in 2008 were predominantly male, with males committing 97 percent of the homicide incidents. Two-thirds of the victims were female.
According to the report, 17 of the 36 homicides resulted from the use of a gun.
The report showed half of victims had left or been attempting to leave the relationship. Patti Seger, executive director of WCADV, said leaving a perpetrator does not ""guarantee safety.""
She said 40,000 individuals in Wisconsin receive domestic-violence victim services each year and said the programs were critical to helping victims transition out of abusive relationships.
""The [report] provides an opportunity to mourn the loss of domestic-violence victims, reflect on the cost of domestic violence in our communities and articulate and advocate for policies that will prevent violence in future years,"" Seger said in a statement.
