Idaho’s Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance, which is funded almost entirely by a $3.6 million federal grant, worked with 21,631 victims in 2012. Director Luann Dettman said, “Violence is preventable when we act.” Idaho saw 22 people die in domestic violence incidents in 2011, she said. In that same year, there were 5,715 incidents of violence between spouses, ex-spouses and those in dating relationships in Idaho – one every 88 minutes. “Keep in mind these are only the reported stats,” Dettman told lawmakers. “There are many that go unreported.”

Lawmakers on the joint committee seemed a bit stunned by the stats, and had no questions. The two independent councils that fall under the Department of Health & Welfare, the domestic violence council and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, both are requesting maintenance budgets for next year, with no new initiatives.