Domestic Violence Statistics in San Jose
Domestic violence crosses all populations. Anyone can fall victim to domestic violence. In California, roughly 35% of women and 31% of men will be assaulted or stalked at some point in their lives by current or former intimate partners.
Due to these shocking numbers, police officers and prosecutors take domestic violence calls very seriously. Unfortunately, they sometimes become overzealous in their pursuit of domestic abusers by filing charges based on false accusations. They sometimes even file charges against victims instead of their abusers.
If you’re facing domestic violence charges in San Jose, CA, contact Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law for a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options. Contact us at (408) 217-8818.
Our team law firm has years of experience with weapons charges in San Jose, resisting arrest, shoplifting in San Jose, federal crimes, sex crimes, and more.
How Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law Can Help With Domestic Violence Charges in San Jose, CA
Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law is a criminal defense law firm in San Jose, California that has been fighting for those accused of crimes since 2005. Our criminal defense lawyers in San Jose, CA have over 30 years of combined legal experience defending clients charged with serious crimes.
Every client who calls our firm will receive:
- A free consultation so they can tell their side of the story
- A legal team that has successfully defended thousands of clients
- Fierce legal representation to minimize your potential consequences and protect your rights and reputation
- Fearless advocates with extensive trial experience
A criminal conviction for domestic violence can interfere with everything from employment to custody and visitation rights. Contact Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law for a free consultation with a San Jose domestic violence attorney to learn how we can build a defense to your charges.
Domestic Violence Calls in California
California law has several laws covering domestic violence.
Domestic battery happens when someone makes harmful contact with an intimate partner.
Domestic battery includes punching or kicking, but it could also include slapping the phone from someone’s hand or shoving them away from the door. Throwing a glass at someone can constitute battery if it hits them.
Another domestic violence law covers willful corporeal injury involving a traumatic condition. This is a long phrase that simply means the domestic battery injured the victim. So shoving someone might not fit this offense unless they fall and hit their head. The head wound may qualify as a “traumatic condition.”
Both of these laws protect similar people:
- Spouses and ex-spouses
- Co-parents
- Current and former co-habitants or domestic partners
- People currently or formerly dating or engaged
A battery committed against anyone else, such as a parent, falls under a different law.
Police agencies in California receive roughly 169,000 domestic violence calls every year. But this does not translate to 169,000 victims. Many calls come from the same victim due to serial abuse. Also, at least some of these calls are false accusations or mistaken reports.
For example, someone may call the police and accuse an ex-spouse of domestic violence to gain the upper hand in a custody battle. Or a neighbor may call the police about a loud argument, but the police might find that the arguing did not lead to physical violence.
How Common Is Domestic Violence in San Jose, CA?
The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) received 4,770 domestic violence calls in 2022. This total represented a record high for the city. It was also more than double the number received just ten years earlier. In 2013, the SJPD received 2,193 calls for domestic violence. Thus, domestic violence is both a significant and growing problem.
Some important domestic violence statistics in San Jose include:
Armed vs. Unarmed
The vast majority of calls for domestic violence involve no weapons. Over 85% of those accused of domestic violence were unarmed. But this represents a significant drop since 2013, when over 91% of those accused had no weapon.
These statistics fit a national trend in which the proportion of calls involving weapons has increased.
In San Jose, the breakdown of weapons recovered during domestic violence calls includes:
- 3.8% firearms
- 12.1% knives
- 35.9% fists/feet (considered to be a weapon in California)
- 48.2% other weapons
The use of a weapon could lead to charges besides domestic violence. Prosecutors could file charges for attempted murder, assault with a domestic weapon, and firearm possession by a restricted person, depending on who had the weapon and what they did with it.
Sex of the Accused
California does not provide a breakdown of the sex or age of those involved in domestic assaults. But it does provide a breakdown of all assaults. In 2021, males represented 78.1% of felony arrests and 75.0% of misdemeanor arrests for assault in San Jose.
Age of the Accused
As you may expect, younger adults are more likely to get arrested for assault in San Jose. Over 35% of the people arrested for assault by the SJPD were in their 20s. Nearly 32% were in their 30s. In other words, two-thirds of those arrested for assault were in their 20s or 30s.
Outcome of Domestic Violence Claims
Out of the total arrests, 39.1% of those arrested for felonies and 17.0% of those arrested for misdemeanors were released without charges. The rest faced criminal complaints.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our San Jose Domestic Violence Lawyers
Domestic violence is a serious charge that can have consequences now and in the future. To discuss how we can defend you from domestic violence charges, contact Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law for a free consultation.
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Our Domestic Violence Defense Law Office in San Jose
1922 The Alameda, Suite 201, San Jose, CA 95126
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