ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT                         VAWA
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1997                            (202) 514-2008
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
           STATEMENT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OFFICE 
                 DIRECTOR BONNIE J. CAMPBELL ON 
              VIOLENCE RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Bonnie J. Campbell, Director of the
Justice Department's Violence Against Women Office, made the
following statement regarding the Bureau of Justice Statistics
report on violence-related emergency room visits:

     "Today's report is sobering proof that domestic violence is
seriously under-reported to law enforcement authorities.  More than
a third of the women treated for violent injuries in emergency
rooms have been hurt by an intimate partner.  I am encouraged that
the medical profession is taking a greater role in addressing
domestic violence, but this report makes it clear that more must be
done.  We need to redouble our efforts to engage emergency room
personnel in the battle to end domestic abuse and insure that they
have the information they need to protect victims and stop the
cycle of violence."
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