Overview
The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) collects information on victims of domestic violence reported through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Victim counts are reported for the following offenses: aggravated assault, simple assault, sex offenses, and violation of protective orders.
Definitions & Reporting Notes Understanding Domestic Violence Terminology
Domestic Violence Relationships
Domestic violence victims are identified by their relationship to the offender and are categorized as:
Intimate Partner (Female/Male) – Includes spouse, ex-spouse, and those in an intimate relationship (including dating or formerly dating relationships, whether or not the intimate partners had ever lived together).
Other Family – Includes sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, in-law, stepparent, stepsibling, and other blood and in-law relationships.
Reporting Notes
New York City Police Department has provided domestic violence victim data for the purpose of this report, but offense classification differ from the UCR definitions. Data for New York City should not be used to derive statewide counts and/or make regional comparisons.
In 2024, the New York State Police (NYSP) transitioned to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), resulting in changes to how the agency counts domestic violence victims. Therefore, domestic violence victim counts reported by the NYSP in 2024 should not be compared to counts reported in prior years. Questions about data submitted to the state during this transition should be directed to the NYSP.
UCR Reported Domestic Violence Related Offenses
Aggravated Assault - An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. This includes the offenses of menacing in the first, second, and third degree.
Simple Assaults - Assaults and attempted assaults which are not of an aggravated nature and do not result in serious injury to the victim. Harassment, stalking, intimidation, coercion, and hazing are included.
Sex Offenses - Includes offenses of rape, statutory rape, sodomy, incest, and sexual abuse.
Violation of Protective Order – Violation of a court order by the person for which the order was issued against.
NYPD Reported Domestic Violence Related Offenses
New York City 2011 data appears in a temporary format while the NYPD's Uniform Crime Reports are being developed. While the rest of the state used UCR crime categories of "aggravated assault" and "simple assault", NYC data instead shows the categories of "felonious assault" and "assault third degree & related offenses". The statistical tabulations presented for New York City are derived from top charge of the reported complaint and the relationship/intimate partner information collected by the NYPD crime reporting system.
Felony Assault – Includes felony assaults as defined by Article 120 of the New York State Penal Law.
Assault 3 & Related Offenses – Includes all non-felony assaults as defined by Article 120 of the New York State Penal Law.