The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is taking a new approach in looking at domestic violence. By using data to map reports of domestic violence situations, patterns begin to emerge. Domestic crimes aren’t a pattern crime in the sense that a suspect typically doesn’t go out and commit five domestics at various locations like a burglar might, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t useful information in the gathering of domestic calls by time and location.

In a project that is still in its infancy, the Sheriff’s Office looked at 2,010 domestic incidents that occurred between January of 2014 and August of 2017. Useful information gathered included days and times where there was a higher rate of reported domestic violence situations. For instance, 35% of the calls were on weekends, and 50% of the calls were between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. “Hot spots” or areas with the highest concentration of domestics in the county were also brought to light. It should be noted that the statistics are based on calls reported to the Sheriff’s Office and not other municipal police agencies within Dane County. By having this information, just like with other crimes, law enforcement can begin to look at how resources are allocated.

The Sheriff’s Office is also working closely with organizations like DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services), to provide them with the latest data possible. They in turn, can also focus their resources and prevention efforts where they are most needed. If you, or someone you know, is in an abusive or violent domestic relationship, there are resources available. For more information go to https://abuseintervention.org/.