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CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT |
1997 Annual Crime Report
DOMESTIC CRIMES
Domestic crimes include all offenses committed against family members, spouses and ex-spouses, roommates, and romantic partners and ex-romantic partners. The Cambridge Police Department generally responds to between 1,500 and 2,000 domestic calls for service each year, resulting in 700 to 1,000 incident reports and 250 to 350 arrests.
In 1997, the Cambridge Police Department took 907 reports for domestic incidents. Underreporting is a serious problem when it comes to domestic crimes (domestic violence experts estimate that the police department receives a report for only 33 percent of domestic crimes), so the reliability of these figures is uncertain.
Categorical Breakdown of Domestic Incidents
| Most Serious Offense | Total Reports 1997 |
% of Total Domestic Reports |
% of this Crime that are Domestic |
| Dispute/Disturbance with No Physical Abuse | 258 |
28.4% |
100.0% |
| Simple Assault | 254 |
28.0% |
41.9% |
| Aggravated Assault | 99 |
10.9% |
26.8% |
| Violation of a Restraining Order | 96 |
10.6% |
100.0% |
| Threats to Commit a Crime | 66 |
7.3% |
18.3% |
| Malicious Destruction of Property | 37 |
4.1% |
4.5% |
| Burglary | 24 |
2.6% |
4.0% |
| Harassing or Obscene Telephone Calls | 23 |
2.5% |
8.6% |
| Larceny | 23 |
2.5% |
0.8% |
| Attempted Murder | 7 |
0.8% |
4.2% |
| Robbery | 4 |
0.4% |
2.3% |
| Auto Theft | 3 |
0.3% |
0.6% |
| Disorderly Conduct | 3 |
0.3% |
3.8% |
| Trespassing | 3 |
0.3% |
3.8% |
| Kidnapping | 3 |
0.3% |
60.0% |
| Peeping & Spying | 1 |
0.1% |
5.9% |
| Check Forgery | 1 |
0.1% |
0.4% |
| Indecent Assault | 1 |
0.1% |
4.2% |
| Stalking | 1 |
0.1% |
14.3% |
| Total | 907 |
An increasing number of calls to which officers
respond involve no crime-simply a loud argument, classified
as a "domestic dispute." In 1997, these calls made up
28 percent of all domestic reports. While not technically a
crime, these domestic disturbances can still be a form of abuse,
and they may escalate into m
ore serious offenses if they go unaddressed.
The second most common domestic incident, also accounting for 28 percent of the total, is "simple assault" (assault without a weapon and with no serious injury). Aggravated assaults make up another 11 percent.
Domestic incidents occurred most often between romantic partners or ex-romantic partners (48 percent), and between spouses or ex-spouses (25 percent). A woman was victimized in 75 percent of domestic incidents.
In 33 percent of the domestic crimes reported (excluding "domestic disturbances"), the Cambridge Police arrested a subject at the scene. When aggravated or simple assault was the primary crime, police made on-scene arrests 51 percent of the time. (In the 49 percent of domestic assaults in which police did not make on scene arrests, it was because the offender had fled the scene. Cambridge Police have adopted a "zero-tolerance" policy on domestic violence and do make on-scene arrests for all domestic crimes in which the offender can be located.)
While the police are often first to be called for assistance in many crimes, in domestic violence this is not always the case. Victims of abuse often seek assistance from a local battered women's shelter, a court, a hospital, or a friend before calling the police. Through the initiative of making Cambridge a "Domestic Violence Free Zone," advocates of battered women and the police are increasing the awareness and education of domestic violence in our community. Domestic violence crosses all socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious, sexual-orientation, and age boundaries. What Crime Analysis has identified, however, is that we respond to more calls in communities where individuals live in close quarters, and where neighbors contact the police for assistance. This community responsibility is what not only the "Domestic Violence Free Zone" but also Community Policing strives to attain: when we as a community are concerned about our neighbors' safety as well as our own, we will have a safer community
If You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence You are not alone, but please understand that domestic abuse generally gets worse and occurs more frequently when victims do not seek help. There is help available, either through the Cambridge Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit or through a local battered women's shelter. At the very least, seek help from a family member or friend, and create a safety plan for you and your children. Important Telephone Numbers: Cambridge Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit 349-3371 Transition House (shelter in Cambridge) 661-7203 Renewal House (shelter in Boston) 566-6881 Respond (shelter in Somerville) 623-5900 Dating Violence Intervention Project (teen dating violence) 868-8328 Cambridge/Somerville Legal Services 494-1800 Community Legal Services Center 661-1010 Remember, domestic abuse also includes emotional abuse, which can include insults, threats, bad treatment in front of others, assigning false blame, and attempts to control where you go, what you do, and who you see. This type of behavior can be a warning sign for physical abuse down the road, if it hasn't already occurred. |
If You Are an Abuser Learn to recognize your behavior for what it is. If you assault your spouse, romantic partner, children, or other family members, you need to seek help. Likewise, if you insult, threaten, blame, feel you need to control your spouse or romantic partner, or destroy things during arguments, you should seek assistance. Your behavior may escalate into violence. There is Help for Men Who Abuse: Emerge 547-9879 Common Purpose 597-7230 Both of these services provide counseling and treatment for abusers. Remember:
There is no excuse for abuse. |
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