FOR-PROFIT CLINICS, FREE-STANDING CLINICS FACE MORE VIOLENCE

As in 1996, free-standing clinics, for-profit clinics, and clinics for which abortion constituted over 75% of their practice were more likely to face severe types of violence.

Clinics located in free-standing facilities accounted for 66.7% of clinics experiencing severe violence, whereas only 56.5% of the clinics in the survey sample were free-standing. An overwhelming proportion of arsons and arson threats reported in the survey-- 100% and 66.7%, respectively -- occurred at free-standing clinics.

For-profit clinics also were over-represented among the clinics which were experiencing severe violence. Statistically significant relationships were found between the type of clinic and forms of violence including stalking, blockades, clinic invasions, bombings and bomb threats, and arson and arson attacks. Clinic types included non-profit, for-profit, or private doctors offices. Of the clinics that reported at least one type of severe violence, 52.4% were for-profit, 27.4% were non-profits, and 19% were private doctors offices. Of all the clinics in the survey, 37.8% were for-profits, 34.2% were non-profits, and 27.8% were private doctors offices.

Moreover, invasions, blockades, bombings, bomb threats, vandalism and death threats were more likely to take place at clinics for which abortion constituted more than 75% of their practice.

| Methodology | Key Findings |
| Violence Still Plagues Almost 25% of Clinics |
| Percentage of Clinics Free From Violence Grows From One-Third in 1994 to Two-Thirds Today |
| Arson Threats, Bomb Threats, and Gunfire Increase; Bomb Threats and Vandalism Most Common Forms of Violence |
| For-Profit Clinics, Free-Standing Clinics Face More Violence |
| Violence-Related Staff Resignations Up From 1996 |
| Buffer Zones Protect One-Third of Clinics |
| One in Ten Clinics Cite FACE Violations |
| Fewer Clinics Seek Legal Remedies |
| Law Enforcement "Excellent" Ratings Decline Slightly; Decreased Violence Reduces Law Enforcement Contacts |
| Lower Levels of Violence Associated With Better Enforcement Response |
| Conclusions | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2 | Table of Contents |

Copyright 2000, The Feminist Majority Foundation