Domestic Violence Hotline A Year Old

A 24-hour, toll-free hotline offering help to victims of domestic violence has received 33,000 calls since it was established a year ago, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala said Thursday.

Women placed 89 percent of the calls and men, 11 percent, said an HHS release.

The vast majority were first-time help seekers. Sixty-four percent said they were the victims, 19 percent identified themselves as friends or family of the victims and 3 percent said they were the batterers.

The remaining 14 percent were professional service providers and members of the public.

The hotline was established through an HHS grant authorized under the Violence Against Women Act, part of the 1994 crime bill.

The number is (800) 799-SAFE.