| family
violence domestic violence
Domestic violence is an issue which has
received much attention as of late, and is a real concern in San Mateo County, as well.
- According to criminal justice statistics from the
California Department of Justice, San Mateo County experiences a rate of 98.8 arrests for
spousal abuse per 100,000 population, well below the rates measured in neighboring Santa
Clara County as well as throughout the state. 307
- In 1996 alone, police in San Mateo County received over
3,000 calls for assistance for domestic violence situations. This figure is, however,
lower than recorded the previous two years. 308
- Furthermore, 58% of domestic violence calls in San Mateo
County in 1996 involved reports of threats with weapons, mostly by hands, fists or feet. A
total of 6.9% involved threats with other weapons. 309
child abuse
- Between 1994 and 1996, the rate of child abuse in San Mateo
County (including sexual, physical and emotional abuse, as well as neglect, exploitation
and caretaker incapacity) was 46.7 per 1,000 children. This rate is much lower than the
state rate, as well as the rate in Santa Clara County.313
- From 1988 to 1992 there was a 122% increase in the number
of overall child abuse victims referred to the county (3,955 to 8,796). However, between
1992 and 1996, there has been an approximate 17% decline in the number of victim referrals
(8,796 to 7,298). Between 1995 and 1996, there was a 7% decrease in both families and
victims referred to the county for child abuse. 315,316
- Three quarters of all child abuse referrals are for general
neglect, physical abuse, and caretaker absence or incapacity.317
elder abuse
An issue that is
often overlooked is that of abuse of the elderly. Although protection mechanisms for
elderly victims of abuse do exist, elder abuse is a complex issue. Legal safeguards are in
place allowing for abused elders to be removed from unsafe situations, but appropriate
shelters for elderly who have special medical and daily care needs are lacking. Mentally
competent elders may choose not to be removed from what appears to be an abusive situation
to others. Due to the complexity of the issue, elder abuse is not only under-reporte d, but also under-identified by victims, abusers
and the community.
- Between 1994 and 1996, there was an annual average of 1.7
arrests for elder abuse in San Mateo County. This translates to a rate of 2.1 arrests per
100,000 population aged 65 and older. These numbers are considerably low in comparison to
Santa Clara County, but keep in mind that, because these numbers are small, they can
fluctuate greatly from year to year. 318
307 Criminal Justice Statistics
Department, California Department of Justice.
308 Ibid.
309 Criminal Justice Statistics Department, California Department of
Justice
310 1998 San Mateo County Quality of Life Survey. Healthy
Community Collaborative of San Mateo County. September 1998.
311 Ibid.
312 Criminal Justice Statistics Department, California Department of
Justice.
313 Status of Children in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Report Presented to the San Mateo County Board of Education. December 10,1997.
314 California County Data Book. Children Now. 1997.
315 Public Welfare in California, 1995-96 Annual Report. State
of California Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Social Services.
316 San Mateo County Child Welfare Services.
317 San Mateo County Child Welfare Services.
318 Criminal Justice Statistics Department, California Department of
Justice. |