Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men

• NCJ Number: 249822
• Journal: NIJ Journal Issue: 277
• Author(s): Andre B. Rosay
• Date Published: June 2016
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Journal
• Grant Number(s): 2012-PJ-BX-K001
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: National Institute of Justice Fellowship: Violence Against Indian Women Research Program

Annotation

This article reports on a study of violence against Native American and Alaska Native women and men that examined the prevalence of psychological aggression and physical violence by intimate partners, stalking, and sexual violence among this population, as well as the perpetrator's race and the impact of the violence.

Abstract

Study findings indicate high rates of violence against both women and men who are Native American or Alaska Native. Just over four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3 percent) had experienced violence in their lifetimes. This included 56.1 percent who had experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. 48.8 percent who had experienced stalking, and 66.4 percent who had experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner. The study also found that 39.8 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women had experienced violence in the past year. This included 14.4 percent who had experienced sexual violence, 8.6 percent who had experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, 11.6 percent who had experienced stalking, and 25.5 percent who had experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner. American Indian and Alaska Native men also had high victimization rates; 81.6 percent had experienced violence in their lifetimes, including 27.5 percent who had experienced sexual violence, The majority of American Indian and Alaska Native victims have experienced violence at the hands of at least one interracial perpetrator in their lifetimes (97 percent of female victims and 90 percent of male victims). The American Indian and Alaska Native population is relatively small, so these results are not surprising. This provides continuing support for federally recognized tribes' sovereign right to prosecute non-Indian offenders. Data are shown for the following victimization impacts: fear for safety, physical injury, services to provide relief, and missed days of work or school. 1 exhibit and 7 notes