Palmetto State Auditor | Special Report
South Carolina can’t seem to shake its reputation for deadly domestic violence, and the latest numbers just drive it home. The 2024 stats, released in 2025, are grim: 46 people lost their lives last year at the hands of someone in their own home. Most of the time, it’s women who pay the highest price and usually, no one sees it coming until it’s too late.
Looking at the Numbers
Of those 46 people killed, 35 were women and 11 were men. That’s about three out of every four victims being female. The victims’ backgrounds, 59% Caucasian, 37% African American, and 4% Hispanic, line up with the state’s population, showing that domestic violence hits every community.
Firearms seem to be the weapon of choice in most of these tragedies, Two out of three victims were killed with a firearm, which isn’t new, as they make these situations much more deadly. Nearly half the time, the assailant was a current or former romantic partner, while spouses were responsible for another third. It’s a pattern, that advocates have been warning about for years: the most dangerous place for many people is in their own relationship, especially when it’s ending.
But deaths aren’t the whole story, not even close. In just one year, SCCADVASA and its member groups helped more than 19,000 survivors. They answered over 22,000 crisis calls, offered emergency shelter, counseling, legal help, and helped people navigate the courts.
Why Does Abuse Happen?
This isn’t just about anger, research suggest a mix of things:
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- Power and control—one person wants to dominate the other
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- Learned behavior—people who grew up around violence often repeat it
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- Money and dependency—these can trap someone in a dangerous situation
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- Substance abuse—it can make things worse, but it’s not the root cause
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- Silence and shame—people stay quiet because they’re afraid or embarrassed
Abusers usually work to cut victims off from friends and family, chip away at their self-worth, and tighten control over time. That’s why so many people wait years before asking for help. Cops get called to more than 30,000 domestic violence incidents each year, but advocates say that’s just a fraction of what’s really going on.
The Toll on People, and the State
The pain is obvious, but there’s also a huge financial cost. Every year, domestic violence drains about $358 million from South Carolina, medical bills, police response, court costs, lost work, long-term social services. Taxpayers end up footing the bill for problems that could’ve been stopped sooner.
A Reputation South Carolina Can’t Ignore
Year after year, South Carolina ranks near the top for women killed by men, sometimes nearly double the national average. Advocates say this isn’t just bad luck. It’s about weak policies, not catching problems early enough, and a lack of public understanding.
How Do We Fix This?
Real change takes work on both prevention and accountability. People on the front lines point to a few things that help:
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- Catching abuse earlier, doctors and social workers asking the right questions
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- More support for victims, making sure there are enough shelters, counselors, and legal aid everywhere in the state
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- Keeping firearms and other weapons away from abusers, especially when there’s a restraining order
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- Teaching friends, family, and coworkers how to spot warning signs and step in safely
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- Helping survivors get back on their feet, housing, jobs, money
Groups like SCCADVASA lead the charge. They don’t just help people in the moment, they push for new laws and policies that focus on keeping victims safe.
