domestic violence is the most common cause of nonfatal injury to women in the United States. 1-3 Victims are pushed, punched, kicked, strangled, and assaulted with various weapons with the intent of causing pain, injury, and emotional distress. The lifetime risk of severe injury as a result of domestic violence has been estimated to be 9 percent for women, with a lifetime risk of up to 22 percent for any type of injury from domestic violence. The risk of death from domestic violence is also substantial; one third of the homicides of women in the United States are committed by a spouse or partner